Causes, symptoms and tips

In winter, you are used to protecting yourself from the cold with scarves and thick clothing. Yet for many people, tears roll down their cheeks when they bike, ski or hike outdoors in inclement weather. But why do your eyes keep watering and what can you do about it? You take care of your skin with a greasier cream, and so your eyes also deserve extra protection in winter.

Dry air and inclement wind can cause burning, itchy eyes and temporary blurred vision. In addition, UV radiation is also present in winter and snow or ice surfaces can reflect it extra strongly, increasing the risk of snow blindness. Therefore, protect your eyes properly in winter: extra care for your eyes is important during this cold period. Below are the main causes and some simple tips to keep your eyes healthy.

Causes of watery eyes in winter

During the winter months, watery eyes, temporary blurred vision and burning or dry eyes are common. These symptoms can have several causes, including:

Temperature

One of the causes is the temperature of the eye. When it is cold, your body tries to keep your eyes as warm as possible by producing extra tears. In warm weather, some of the tear fluid evaporates, making you more prone to dry eyes. In the cold, this hardly evaporates, causing your eyes to tear more. So in winter, protect your eyes properly from low temperatures to prevent excessive tears.

Dry air

In winter, the humidity is a lot lower. As a result, the eyes become drier. The body responds by producing more tear fluid. This sometimes happens so quickly and in such quantities that tears actually begin to flow.

Reflextrans

Reflex tears are tears that result from irritation of the eye. This normally happens when there is a speck of dirt or dust, but also when cold or strong wind hits your eyes, for example while skating or cycling. Therefore, in winter, protect your eyes properly from wind and cold to prevent irritation and excessive reflextrans.

The drain is blocked

The eye has a drainage tube for tear fluid. With each blink, the tear film is refreshed and discharged through the tear duct. In the cold, these tubes constrict, making the drainage less effective and causing tears to accumulate. Unfortunately, there is little you can do about this constriction. Therefore, protect your eyes in winter with good (ski) glasses that keep the area around your eyes warm and thus help prevent excessive tears.

The solutions

Sports glasses with curved lenses

The curvature of sports glasses keeps cold air well out of your eyes. Normal glasses, on the other hand, create vortexes of cold air behind the lenses, which can cause dry and watery eyes. Therefore, protect your eyes in winter with well-fitting sports glasses that optimally shield your eyes from wind and cold.

Drink enough

During winter days, the humidity is lower. Drinking enough not only helps your eyes, but also your whole body. Good hydration also helps keep your eyes hydrated.

Artificial tears

Treat dry eyes with artificial tears if necessary. This is the most common treatment for dry eyes. There are several types of moisturizing eye drops you can use. Many are available without a prescription at the drugstore.

Lenses out in cold weather

If you experience dry eyes while wearing contact lenses, it is better to wear glasses temporarily. Especially in cold weather, your eyes dry out faster and lenses are less comfortable. Wearing glasses gives your eyes rest and keeps them better hydrated.

Protection from sunlight

In addition to preventing watery and dry eyes, it is important to properly protect your eyes from sunlight. After all, UV radiation is not only present in summer, but also in winter.

You are particularly at risk during skiing, ice skating and other winter outdoor activities. Sunlight is strongly reflected by snow and ice, and at higher altitudes the intensity of UV radiation also increases.

Especially abroad, for example in the mountains, UV radiation can be up to ten times stronger than in the Netherlands. Without proper protection, your eyes then receive an excessive dose of UV rays, which can lead to snow blindness and permanent vision damage.

Symptoms of snow blindness often do not appear until several hours after exposure and may include:

• red, puffy eyes
• a sandy feeling in the eyes
• pain
• watery eyes
• hypersensitivity to light

In short, sunglasses or ski goggles are essential, and not just during winter sports.

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