How To Care For Your Eyes This Autumn
Have you noticed that this time of the year, you start to feel tired and your eyes become a little more irritable? Let’s get into the simple way to care for your eyes this autumn. These autumnal conditions will sometimes be harsh for our eyes and can increase the evaporation of the eye’s tear layer. This leads to irritation and for the front of the eye to become drier.
What Causes Irritated Eyes In Autumn
In the autumn months, the environment is completely different to that of summer. The days are shorter and the temperature drops. This causes all of us to fire up our central heating as well as blowing warmer air from the climate control in the car. We spend much more time indoors and avoid the slightly colder weather. When we do venture outdoors it tends to be windier than in previous months. All of this can have a huge effect on our eyes.
How to Treat Dry Eyes in Autumn
A pair of high-quality distance vision glasses or sunglasses can go a long way in protecting your eyes this autumn. Not only will they protect you from the low sun but also offer assistance against the blustery winds that evaporates the eye’s tear layer. If you hate the feel of glasses on your face and have instead chosen to wear contact lenses, then you may need to lubricate them a little more at this time of the year. It is common for the change in season to make your eyes feel dry. Speak to your optometrist and see what they recommend for your specific pair of contacts. You might find that there are better options available to treat a more continuous issue you’re experiencing. Eye drops for lens wearers are common place and give you an effective solution for dryness.
One of the biggest things people ignore when it comes to keeping their eyes lubricated is hydration. Drinking water prevents you from becoming dehydrated. When your body becomes dehydrated it begins preserving fluid. This leads to various symptoms of dehydration including thirst and dry mouth, decreased urine output, muscle cramps, headache, lightheadedness, sleepiness as well as a lack of tear production. When the eyes stop producing tears, they are no longer properly lubricated, which can lead to dry eye, eye strain and vision problems.
Are Blinking Exercises Effective?
Blinking and eye exercises are other great ways to keep eyes comfortable, especially when working on a screen in a dry office environment. When we use a computer or digital screen our blinking rate decreases by around 60%, meaning our eyes dry out at an accelerated rate. When you become conscious of this you really start to notice how long periods of time go by without you blinking. We like to encourage the 20-20-20 rule for our customers. In summary, the 20-20-20 rule refers to when you take a 20-second break to look at something 20 feet away after 20 minutes of screen time. There isn’t any research that shows the screens we spend hours looking at each day are necessarily damaging our eyesight, but it can cause an unpleasant feeling of strain and tiredness.
Looking for Expert Advice
Are you suffering from a long-term dry eye condition or have noticed some changes in your vision? It’s always best to seek some professional advice. Here at Focus Eye Centre, we are always willing to offer guidance where possible. Whether it is for a new pair of spectacles, sunglasses, lenses or just some drops to calm and lubricate your eyes. Give us a call today on 0800 980 34 64 or email us at info@focuseyecentre.co.uk.