Cold or windy weather and indoor heating may cause people to experience dry eyes more often in the winter months. Depending on the severity of their symptoms and any medications they may be taking, a person can use either over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription medications to treat their dry eyes.

Dry eye is a common condition that can negatively affect a person’s quality of life. According to the National Eye Institute, nearly 16 million people in the United States have dry eye.

There is some evidence to suggest that the seasons may impact the occurrence of dry eye.

Dry eyes in winter are common, but people can usually treat them with home remedies and self-care. Sometimes, however, dry eyes may require medical intervention.

Read on to learn about what people can do to treat symptoms of dry eyes at home. This article also covers when to contact a doctor.

a young child with dry eyes in winterShare on Pinterest
Jennifer Bogle/Stocksy

There are many reasons that a person may experience dry eyes throughout the year. However, some reasons are specific to the winter months.

These include factors such as weather and heating. For example, cold and high winds blowing in a person’s face may cause their eyes to dry out. Indoor heating may also be a cause of dry eyes, and it is likely that people will use their heating more often in the colder months.

Some symptoms of dry eyes may include eyes that feel:

  • itchy
  • sore
  • gritty
  • red
  • sensitive to light

A person with dry eyes may also experience blurry vision and eyes that are more watery than usual.

Some general reasons that a person may experience dry eyes include:

  • their glands not producing enough tears to keep the eyes moist
  • their tears drying too fast
  • their tears not keeping their eyes wet effectively enough

Medications

Some medications may cause dry eyes. However, it is important that people do not stop taking their prescribed medications without medical advice.

There may be alternatives that may not cause a person to experience dry eyes. Alternatively, it could be that it is more beneficial to treat dry eyes than to change medications.

Regardless, people should speak with the doctor who prescribed their medication regarding any side effects they may be experiencing.

There are some lifestyle changes and other methods that a person can try to help prevent dry eyes in winter. These include:

  • Blinking often: People should make sure that they are blinking regularly to ensure that their tears are thoroughly lubricating the eyes.
  • Avoiding hairdryers: Using hairdryers can increase the likelihood of a person’s eyes becoming dry.
  • Using indoor heating less often: People should try to keep their home as cool as they can bear so that the heating does not dry out their eyes.
  • Avoiding smoking: People may wish to consider quitting smoking and trying to avoid being around people who smoke, as smoke from cigarettes can irritate the eyes and cause them to dry out.
  • Wearing eye protection: Wearing wraparound glasses or goggles can help protect the eyes from the wind and other winter weather.
  • Limiting screen time: Often, when people spend a long time looking at screens, they may blink less. This can cause the eyes to dry out.
  • Drinking plenty of water: This helps keep people hydrated and, therefore, helps prevent dry eyes.

There are many things that a person can do at home to help relieve dry eyes without requiring medical intervention.

However, a person should visit a doctor if they:

  • have tried home remedies for a few weeks and still do not experience relief
  • have any worrisome changes to their vision, such as loss of vision
  • have dry eyes that are interfering with their day-to-day life
  • suspect that they have an underlying reason for their dry eyes

There are many underlying reasons that can cause a person to experience dry eyes. Some of these may include:

The doctor will be able to look into any underlying causes and prescribe stronger treatments that may be able to resolve a person’s dry eye symptoms.

It is quite common for people to experience dry eyes in the winter months.

There are many things that can cause this, including a lack of humidity, warm indoor air, and the wind.

Most of the time, people are able to use home remedies to help treat their dry eye symptoms. Occasionally, however, medical intervention may be necessary.