The effect of weather changes on dry eyes

Arab Weather - Dry eyes are one of the most common problems that accompany the winter and cold weather , and it is a condition that causes irritation of the eyes and a feeling of burning or itching in them, which leads the patient to scratch his eyes to relieve these symptoms, which may cause an increase in the severity of these symptoms.

Dry eyes may also be accompanied by a feeling of a foreign body inside, or even a significant increase in tear production as an attempt by the eye to compensate for the lack of tears adequately. Dry eyes for long periods without treatment may cause the development of some complications, such as an increased risk of infectious diseases, or blurred vision (English: Blurred vision).

Dry eyes may be a major problem in people who use contact lenses, and people who suffer from chronic dry eyes, a condition that causes the eyes to produce a poor quality tear film.

The effect of weather on dry eyes

The cold winds, the dry air that accompanies the winter season and the cold weather cause dry eyes, in addition to the fact that the use of heating devices such as stoves and air conditioners that cause the atmosphere to dry out inside closed places increases the problem of dry eyes.

Exposure to wind or dry heat causes the start of a sudden evaporation of moisture inside the eyes, with the lacrimal glands not being able to produce tears quickly enough to maintain the protective layer of tears that keeps the eyes moist, causing dry eyes and associated symptoms, such as dryness and itching.

Certain behaviors that humans practice during the winter may also increase the risk of developing dry eyes, as these behaviors include the following:

• Indoor heating , as the use of different heating devices to heat different homes and indoor places during the winter is a normal behavior that everyone practices, but this process causes a decrease in the level of humidity in the air below the 30-55% necessary to maintain adequate moisture in the eyes to prevent the development of dehydration. With them.
• Insufficient hydration of the body , as many people neglect to drink water and obtain an adequate amount of fluids during the winter season, as cold climates contribute to dampening the mechanisms of feeling thirst in the body, with increased evaporation of moisture from the eyes as a result of exposure to air or dry heat. It is noteworthy that the occurrence of any dryness in the body, even if it is mild, can negatively affect the tear structure of the eye.
• Using the car heater , as it is common in cold climates to use heating the car at the highest temperatures, and direct it towards the face immediately after riding, which is similar to using a hair dryer on the eyes, which may cause severe dryness in the eyes very quickly.
• Lack of access to the necessary nutrients , as studies have shown that the dry air associated with the winter season is capable of causing infections in the lacrimal glands of the eyes, which may cause a partial closure of the tear duct, which increases the risk of exposure to dry eyes, which can be mitigated by adhering to a regime A diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids.

The effect of weather changes on dry eyes is not limited to winter only , as other seasons may also have some negative effects, which include the following:

• Spring season , allergic irritants, such as pollen, which abound in the spring are considered one of the most important factors that affect dry eyes during this season, as a study found that most cases of dry eyes that occur during the spring are caused by an increase in pollen in the air.
• Summer , summer is considered the least season for dry eyes, as a decrease in the percentage of people suffering from dry eye symptoms is observed during the summer, with a decrease in the severity of symptoms, as this was linked to the hotter and wetter weather that accompanies the summer, which increases It reduces the moisture of the eyes, and reduces their dryness.
• Autumn season , autumn may cause an increase in dry eyes symptoms due to an increase in allergic irritants, and the onset of cold, dry air, and the increase in outdoor activities during this season increases the risk of exposure to allergens.