Why Are My Eyes Dry In The Winter?

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Posted by: Missouri Eye Institute in Blog on January 3, 2025

Winter weather can make your eyes feel dry, gritty, or generally uncomfortable. These symptoms can be frustrating, but there are ways to manage them.

Keep reading to learn more about dry eyes in the winter and what you can do to combat these symptoms!

Why Does The Environment Affect My Eyes?

Your eyes are constantly exposed to the world around you, making them sensitive to environmental changes. While your eyelashes, lids, and natural tear film provide important protection against dust and debris, your eyes remain vulnerable to environmental conditions like temperature, humidity, and airborne allergens.

This sensitivity becomes particularly noticeable during seasonal changes. Winter months can be especially challenging, as the naturally low humidity leaves eyes feeling dry and irritated.

Indoor heating systems often compound this problem, circulating dry air and occasional dust throughout your space. Even the simple act of moving between the warm indoors and cold outdoors can stress your eyes, causing you to blink more frequently as they adjust to the temperature shift.

Is it Normal to Have Dry Eyes When You Have a Cold?

When you’re battling a winter cold or virus, dry eyes often join the familiar lineup of symptoms like coughing, sneezing, and congestion. This connection isn’t just coincidental – there’s a clear relationship between your cold symptoms and eye comfort.

The culprit is often sinus inflammation, which creates pressure around your eyes and can lead to unusual dryness. If you’re running a fever, the resulting dehydration can further contribute to eye discomfort.

Even the remedies you reach for might affect your eyes – while antihistamines provide welcome relief from nasal congestion, they can inadvertently reduce moisture in your eyes as well.

Will a Humidifier Help My Dry Eyes?

Running a humidifier in your home or office may help with dry eyes. Increasing the moisture levels in your environment may slow the evaporation of the tear film. It may also counteract the effects of dry air blowing from heating systems.

There are other lifestyle changes that may help reduce dry eye symptoms in winter, such as:

• Don’t sit facing air vents
• Drink plenty of fluids
• Use lubricating eye drops regularly
• Take breaks when reading, using the computer, or doing any tasks that require sustained eye work
• Make sure you blink regularly
• If you wear contact lenses, make sure they’re clean and disinfected

Dry Eye Treatment Options

If your dry eyes don’t feel better after implementing a few lifestyle changes this winter, make an appointment to see your eye doctor at Missouri Eye Institute. They can examine your eyes to determine the cause of your dry eye symptoms and develop a treatment plan that works for you.

Your eye doctor may recommend prescription eye drops to reduce inflammation or medication specifically designed to boost tear production. Another common approach involves the insertion of small devices called punctual plugs into your tear ducts, which help preserve tears by preventing them from draining too quickly.

For some patients, special contact lenses can be prescribed that are designed to hold moisture close to the eyes. Additionally, treatments like LipiFlow, which uses thermal pulsation technology, can help unblock tear glands and improve natural tear production.

Are you struggling with dry eyes? Schedule an appointment at Missouri Eye Institute in Springfield, MO, to learn more about managing dry eye symptoms.