Why Do You Get Itchy Eyes in Winter

When we think about how the seasons can affect your eyes, the first thought for the majority of people will be spring with the start of hay fever season wreaking havoc on the fragile nature of the eyes. In summer, strong sunlight can cause excessive watering and discomfort. If you’d like to find out more about how the seasons and hay fever can cause itchy eyes, then you can read our blogs on seasonal dry eye here.

In winter many people will struggle with feeling of itchiness or pain without knowing the cause. It’s even been coined ‘Dry January’ – not just because of the anti-alcohol campaign – but because of how frequent complaints of dry eyes become in the winter months.

At a time of year when many people would like to celebrate with their families, enjoy seasonal activities, and relax indoors, it can be stressful to be plagued by sensations of itching and irritation.

But you don’t have to sacrifice your winter fun if you’re dealing with the effects of Dry Eye Disease. Here’s why you may be suffering from symptoms at this time of year and how you can combat them to keep your eyes more comfortable in the colder months.

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What is Dry Eye Disease?

Dry Eye Disease is a chronic condition that can cause many symptoms of discomfort related to your eyes. It affects your tear film – the layers that make up tears that serve to protect your eyes from irritation and allow you to see comfortably.[1]

Moisture is key to keeping comfortable and helping you retain clear vision – but even more importantly, Dry Eye Disease has been linked to more severe eye health issues and ignoring or not treating your Dry Eye Disease can lead to permanent damage.[2]

How does Dry Eye Disease affect the tear film?

Your healthy tear film is made of three layers – an aqueous layer, a mucus layer, and an oil layer.[3]

These layers are spread across the ocular surface of the eye and should remain undisturbed in order to provide adequate moisture. The loss of homeostasis of the tear film affects the ability of your eyes to produce tears or causes the tear film to become unstable, leading to the symptoms associated with Dry Eye Disease.[4]

What causes damage to the tear film?

There are many diseases, disorders, and factors that can cause a person to develop Dry Eye Disease including Meibomian gland dysfunction, blepharitis, and even aging.[4]

What are the symptoms of Dry Eye Disease?

The name Dry Eye Disease can be confusing. In fact, there are a variety of symptoms associated with the condition, beyond feelings of dryness. You may have Dry Eye Disease if you suffer from:

Itchy eyes
Red Eyes
Feelings of grit in your eyes
Eye soreness
Blurry vision
Sensitivity to light
Excessive watering[5]

When you suffer from dry eyes, it can affect your everyday life. You may notice it’s becoming difficult to wear contact lenses and that you struggle to be outside in extreme weather or near campfires. For many people it’s an embarrassing situation. But you don’t need to simply exist with these symptoms.

How is Dry Eye Disease Diagnosed?

If you believe you’re suffering from Dry Eye Disease, the first steps would be to check your symptoms. Read our page of symptoms to see whether you could have Dry Eye Syndrome. Or you can take a test like the questionnaire on VISU Shop that can help assess your current symptoms and suggest the perfect treatments to help. Try the Dry Eye Test here.

Another way to diagnose Dry Eye Disease would be to take an eye exam with your optician or ophthalmologist. They’ll conduct a few tests to assess how quickly you produce tears and the quality of your tears and may be able to provide professional advice on managing the disease.[6]

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How Do Environmental Factors Affect Dry Eye?

While there are many causes of Dry Eye Disease, environmental factors often play a large role. Dry Eye Disease is caused by tears not lubricating your eyes properly. While many disorders and diseases can affect the actual production of tear, your environment can cause your tear to evaporate too quickly. This results in the same issue, with the eye surface not receiving adequate lubrication.[7]

How the Winter Weather can Cause Dry and Itchy Eyes

Many common weather conditions can affect our health and wellbeing – including our eye health.

Wind

In the winter, many countries (including the UK) often experience stronger and more frequent wind. This wind causes air to move more quickly across the eye surface which evaporates the protective tears lubricating the film. This evaporation can lead to your eyes becoming more irritated. The wind also carries debris and wind, which irritates and aggravates the delicate surface of the eyes, once again leading to the symptoms of Dry Eye Disease.[8]

Changing Humidity

When the temperature drops, the temperature of the air will also drop. This change in humidity means your eyes and skin doesn’t receive as much moisture, causing your tears to evaporate quicker. This can lead to the symptoms of Dry Eye Disease, including itchiness.[9]

Indoor Heating

Just like the colder weather outside, indoor heating systems can reduce humidity inside your homes. This dry air can cause the moisture in your eyes to evaporate faster, leading to the feelings of grittiness, itchiness, and redness we associate with Dry Eye Disease.[10]

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How Can you Tackle the Symptoms of Dry Eye Disease in Winter?

While dry eyes can be a nuisance and cause a lot of stress in your life, there are things you can do to help ease the symptoms it causes.

Use warm compresses at night to help stimulate oil glands that contribute to the hydration of your tear film.
Use a humidifier to help combat the dry air inside and outside of the home
Drink plenty of water to help hydrate your body and eyes.[11]
Take a break while using computers or digital screens.
Refrain from consistently wearing contact lenses and switch to glasses to give your eyes a well deserves break.
Eat oily fish two to three times a way to increase your intake of omega-3 and beneficial fatty acids.[12]

One of the most useful ways to combat itchy and dry eyes in winter is to use artificial tears. Eye drops can provide the moisture your lens needs, as well as helping to restore and heal any damage that may have resulted from your Dry Eye disease. Xailin® Ectoine is a great choice for people suffering from Dry Eye Disease caused by environmental factors. It can provide soothing relief, as well as intense moisture, resulting in long lasting protection from red, itchy eyes. You can shop for the eye drops here.

If you’re in need of someone to talk to about your difficult Dry Eye Disease symptoms, you can join our Dry Eye and Me community on Facebook and Instagram today.

References

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