The Spectator

Looking after your eye health is important and whilst eye examinations are a large part of this, there are different things you can do as part of your daily routine to take care of your eyes in between your eye examinations.

During winter as the weather drops colder, and the central heating is turned on you may notice that your eyes begin to feel dry and sore. This is due to your eyes becoming dehydrated by the cold weather or warmer temperatures inside, and tear production being reduced. This is something that can easily be managed at home.

Keeping your eyes hydrated and lubricated with eyedrops will add moisture back into your eyes, reducing the dry and gritty feeling. There are many different eyedrops available that can be used multiple times throughout the day, however if you are a contact lens wearer it is best to discuss using eyedrops with your optometrist or optician beforehand to ensure they can be used with contact lenses. Another method for caring for your dry eyes is by using a warming eye bag. When placed over the eyes, the eye bag stimulates tear production by warming the eyelids, not only does this do your eyes good, but it is also incredibly relaxing!

Even though the warm, sunny weather is behind us it is just as important to protect your eyes from UV in winter as it is in summer. UV radiation is always present, and although our eyes absorb most of the UVA and UVB rays, overexposure can contribute to degenerative eye conditions such as cataracts and glaucoma. The best way to protect your eyes from UV is with a pair of sunglasses that are CE marked or meet British Standards. Sunglasses are also incredibly useful when driving to reduce the glare caused by the low sun, wet roads, and snow.

 As the nights are drawing in, and sunset is even earlier many of us will be navigating the roads in the dark. When driving in the dark, visibility is greatly reduced and glare from headlights can be dazzling and distracting. One way to help reduce glare from headlights is with an anti-reflective coating on your spectacle lenses. The coating is designed to reduce glare from light sources such as artificial lighting, screens, and headlights, providing you with more comfortable vision. Whilst your glasses lenses can help with glare, your windscreen may make it even worse if it is not clean inside and out. Dirty, streaky windows can make glare from headlights even worse, affecting your visibility on the road. Making sure your windscreen is clean will help you see more clearly when driving at night and make your driving experience more comfortable.

If you have any questions about dry eyes, our dry eye treatment or glasses and lenses, please contact your local Eye Place today.