Blog
Winter Eye Health
Posted: 29/11/2022
With the winter months approaching and the wetter weather upon us we will all be spending more time indoors than we have for a while.
Although the NHS recommends that both adults and children take vitamin D supplements until early April due to the lack of sunshine exposure over the winter, a diet rich in fruit and vegetables is important for the micronutrients and vitamins needed for optimum eye health too – see our earlier blog for more information.
Use of log burners and central heating can cause the eyes to dry out as the indoor environment becomes less humid. This can cause scratchy gritty or red eyes and it is important to seek advice if you get these symptoms. If you have already been diagnosed with dry eyes or a tear film deficiency, increasing the use of your drops and encouraging your home to be a little more humid by investing a few pounds in hanging humidifiers which can be used on radiators or even introducing more plants into your home can help.
Screen time will no doubt increase over the winter and it’s important to ensure that adults and children alike take regular breaks from screen viewing, and that screens are viewed at a distance further than 30cm including phones. Every 20 minutes a 20 second break is advised with 20 blinks looking 20 feet away. Prolonged screen viewing without regular breaks can lead to eyestrain and dry eyes, as can wearing out of date glasses or not using glasses when they are needed.
It is important to ensure your children still get plenty of fresh air over the next few months. There is a connection between time spent indoors and the development of short sight (myopia). Studies have shown that myopic vision in children deteriorates faster when days are shortest and more slowly during the summer months, and most likely it is the light exposure that causes the reduced myopia progression during periods with longer days. In addition to the other Myopia Management advice and treatment offered at Rawlings Opticians, simple steps such as encouraging your kids outdoors as much as possible all year round and limiting screen time can help.
Finally – don’t forget your sunglasses – UV exposure in the northern latitudes is significant in winter due to the sun being lower in the sky. Sunglasses such as those by Maui Jim have optimised tints to reduce glare and are available to prescription. As well as protecting your eyes from the UV, the visual comfort improvement due to cutting down on glare from low sun (and reflected glare from snow) cannot be underestimated.
Contact your local branch for more information or book an appointment online.
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