3 Helpful Tips to Improve the State of your Dry Eyes during winter

Tear film is responsible for keeping eyes moist and lubricated. When the tears begin to evaporate more quickly than the average rate; dryness is experienced, that never comes alone. Winter eye dryness is accompanied by stinging, burning, inflammation or with difficulty in blinking eyes. An annoying sensation of foreign body keeps the patient disturbed. To improve the condition, artificial tears may help, or in severe conditions, getting an advice from your eye care expert is recommended.

1. Dry winter air exacerbates dryness when you are outside whereas the use of heaters disturbs the humidity level inside home & office. If you wear contact lenses for vision correction, you might want to install humidifier in your home & office.
2. Using rewetting drops such as Complete Blink n Clean, relieves dryness and makes it easy to tolerate contact lenses for the next couple of hours
3. Quit smoking & intake of alcoholic drinks. Smoke from the cigarette may lead to dryness & irritation. The chemicals from cigarette when enter the blood-stream restrict blood-flow to retina which causes bloodshot & itchy eyes.

Keep yourself at a decent distance from fireplaces. Increase intake of omega 3 fatty acids, eat vegetables & drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated. Healthy eyes are window to the healthy soul. Colored contact lenses will float smoothly when your eyes are moist & are coated with tear-film in right consistency. For comfortable contact lens wear, remember; lubrication is the key!

6 Things you need to know in winter when wearing Contact Lenses

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Contact lenses have been associated with dryness. Though contact lenses have become advanced in terms of providing comfort & ensuring crisp vision during the past decade; they do block certain amount of oxygen entering into your eyes. This is attributed to causing dry eyes. During winter, when the atmosphere is itself dry & cold; the increased use of heaters & fireplaces further adds warmth that exacerbates the dryness. Take care of your eyes during winter specially when wearing colored contact lenses.

Staying Outdoors whilst Wearing Colored Contact Lenses

1. When wearing colored contact lenses during outdoor activities, be wary of the harsh sun rays. Ice and snow reflect UV rays sharply that may be dangerous to the eye sight. Wear protective eye wear or shades that intercept nearly 100% of the UV rays. Additionally, you can choose to wear UV interception colored contact lenses.
2. Stay away from the direct source of heating for instance fireplaces and heaters. These heating appliances suck out the moisture of the surroundings which leaves eyes dry. Make use of humidifiers and keep your eye drops at hand to instantly provide lubrication to eyes.
3. Wear hats with a wider brim along with UV intercepting shades. Hats won’t let harmful sun rays strike your eyes directly.
4. Always wash your hands before handling your contact lenses or touching your eyes whilst contact lenses are still in.
5. When applying creams and body moisturizing lotions, be careful to insert contact lenses prior to applying these.
6. Do not smoke. Smoking is always dangerous for your eyes. It elevates the dryness in eyes and reduce the lubrication that may lead to irritated or inflamed eyes.

Eyes should always be taken care of, regardless of what weather you are in. Following these tips will not only help you have sparkling bright eyes but also vow to reap benefits in the long run. It prevents age-related macular degeneration, formation of crows feet & cataracts etc. Contact lenses help you see clear with advanced peripheral vision. However, they call for meticulous eye care alongside diligent handling of them. Don’t ever skip your annual eye exams to ensure good health of your eyes. 

Winter Eye Care Tips for Contact Lens Wearers

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Contact lenses always need ingenious management with weather. In fall you have to adjust your eyes with pollen whereas in summer & winter the longevity of contact lenses is badly affected by the dry air. During winter people suffer from dry eyes syndrome due to abrupt switching from dry indoor air to outside cold & wet air. The tear-film that is responsible to keep your eyes moist & lubricated gets disturbed due to which dryness is exacerbated. Following the tips given below may help you keep your eyes moist all the day long for greater contact lens tolerance.

1. Keep yourself hydrated. In winter people tend to neglect drinking water because of the low perspiration rate. Drinking plenty of water & continuing to consume green salads & cereals keep your body fluids balanced. As a result you get sparkling & well-hydrated eyes.
2. During summer you have to face chilled indoor air and hot plus humid outdoor air. In winter; it is the other way round. The heaters burn the moisture present in the building to modify which you need a humidifier. Do use your sunglasses & hats outside just like you wear in the summer as the low-key sun rays may harm even more when are reflected through snow & icicles.
3. Use artificial tears to keep your eyes lubricated especially if you wear colored contact lenses
4. You are more likely to get snuggled up in a cozy kigurumi and comfy couch during long winter nights. Falling asleep watching your favorite movie with a big mug of coffee cunningly turn your eyes dry without even letting you realize. Staring at screen reduces the blink-rate that adds to dryness. Try to blink more frequently & take regular pauses for a minute or two. Instead of coffee, consume green tea or chrysanthemum tea instead of regular chai.
5. Use contact lenses that are able to better hold oxygen. Contact lenses with shorter disposal time help easy management with changing weather.

What symptoms do you suffer from when wearing contact lenses during winter? Please share with us how do you keep it going. 

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Pre Xmas Winter Promotion

Geolica Eyevelyn Circle Lenses with UV Protection

Did you know that long exposure to sun can be more damaging to your eyes than skin? We never forget to slather heavy layers of sunblock before going out but only few geniuses will actually pay attention towards eyes. If you are vigorously involved in outdoor activities; you must take eye care seriously. Wear protective eye wear such as UV Protection contact lenses to keep your vision sharp & eyes healthy round the year.

What Geolica Eyevelyn Contact Lenses can do for UV Protection?

UV Blocker Contact Lenses

Geolica Eyevelyn contact lenses offer higher oxygen permeability, moisture retention, advanced resistance of bacteria adhesion & interception of harmful UV rays. Since they are made from bio-compatible silicone hydrogel material; they keep eyes comfortable whilst ensuring maximum protection from harmful sun rays.

Also Read:3 Reasons Why You should Wear Geolica Eyevelyn Contact Lenses?

Protection from sun rays is crucial more in winter than summer. Snow reflects 80% of the sun rays whilst beach reflects 15%. Staying at beach to tan your body or a visit to steeper slopes for skiing pose threats to eyes. Science says that unprotected exposure to sunlight for longer duration increases the risks of “photokeratitis” in later years of life. Constant exposure to sun may damage your vision, produce itching sensation/burning & redness.

Sportsmen more Prone to UV Radiation Damage

Sportsmen should concentrate more on prevention against UV rays. If you spend more than half of your day in skiing, hiking, riding, marathons etc then take strong preventive measures. Wearing contact lenses with UV blockers intercept great deal of harmful rays and block them before they reach your eyes to damage the retina.

Also Read: Contact Lenses for Sports

If you can’t minimize your sun exposure, wearing UV protection contact lenses by Geo Medical is certainly a great favor to your eyes!

Related

• Winter Eye Care Tips for Contact Lens Wearers

Winter Eye Care Tips for Contact Lens Wearers

Contact lenses need management & it may be challenging to tackle with the obstacles faced at initial stages. As the climate takes a turn towards spring, contact lens wearers need to manage the allergies. Similarly, the winter sun also calls for attention. The climate in winter is dry with hot air inside and cold outside that disturbs the tear film. Tear film in eyes is responsible for keeping eyes moist & contact lenses soft. The sudden shift from hot indoor air to cold outside leaves eyes dry that instigate dryness. To manage contact lens wear in winters, please follow the tips given below

Make Arrangements to Keep Contact Lenses Soft

Soak your contact lenses in multi-purpose solution for 6-8 hours prior to each wear. Refill the chambers every morning with new supply of solution.

Make Arrangements to Keep Eyes Moist

Since contact lenses in winter turn eyes dry sooner than usual, it is mandatory to make special arrangements about keeping them moist. Contact lenses themselves block oxygen permeability to some extent & dry air of winter further aggravates the condition. Using re-wetting eye drops or silicone hydrogel contact lenses help settling things.

Also Read: What are Silicone Hydrogel Contact Lenses & How They are Beneficial?

Protect Your Eyes

Forget that sunglasses are only for scorching summer sun. Contrary to the myth, eye experts recommend wearing sun glasses in winter & even in cloudy weather. Not only do they prevent harmful agents getting in to your eyes, but also intercept damaging UV rays. Wearing a hat may also help. However, keep in mind that the hat does not shed, because the lint cause irritation & tingling in eyes

Make use of Humidifiers

Heaters draw moisturizer out from the air making it even drier. This dry air facilitates quick tear evaporation that leaves eyes dry. Humidifiers help maintaining the moisture level in air that in turns keep eyes moist.

Related:

Dry Eye Syndrome & Winter

Do Soft Contact Lenses Freeze in Sub Zero Temperatures?

4 Dry Eye Relief Tips by Dr. Stewart for Contact Lens Wearers

Dry eye syndrome affects over 25 million Americans & more than 100 million people worldwide. With the onset of winters; the syndrome begins to strengthen its roots thus instigate dryness, eye sores and grittiness, itching & burning sensation among contact lens wearers. Dr. Stewart Shofner-renowned surgeon of “Shofner Vision Centre” suggests 5 dry eye relief tips to release the discomfort that is subject to disturb twice more to wearers of contact lenses.

Dr. Kevin Johnson of Shofner Vision Center adds, "Contact lens wearers in particular are subject to dry eye symptoms because the dry air reduces the moisture in the contact lenses.”

During winter the tear film that keeps eyes moist is disturbed due to cold weather & dry air. Wearing contact lenses further worsen the symptoms.

"Dry eye syndrome is much worse in the winter as people tend to stay indoors where warm dry air is prevalent," says Dr. Shofner

How to Relieve Dry Eye Symptoms in winter among Wearers of Contact Lenses?

As a wearer of contact lenses and a patient of dry eyes syndrome, be preventive about following:

1. Stay away from direct air. Air conditioners, hair dryers, car heaters & vents should not be directed towards eyes. Do not ride a bicycle or motor bike without protective eye goggles whilst wearing contact lenses.
2. In winter when there is an advanced use of gas/electric heaters and when the fire places are always active; use a humidifier to add moisture to dry indoor air. If dryness is not dealt like a pro; especially if you wear contact lenses you are more prone to develop eye sores, scratches & corneal abrasions
3. Use lubricants along with prescription eye drops such as Systane and Restasis. They work with one’s own tears to re-hydrate, soothe & reduce the inflammation. They also help your eyes produce more tears to keep eyes lubricated. This increases tolerance for contact lenses & help reduce discomfort associated with contact lenses.
4. Stay away from air pollution, BBQ smoke & cigarette smokers. Those who smoke should reduce smoking or if possible should totally stop it for a while. Smoking is dangerous in 3 ways for cigarette smokers who wear contact lenses.

Dr. Shofner says, "Patients can be treated for dry eye syndrome with quick and convenient procedure such as LipiFlow® or cauterization. Using the correct eye drops can also be helpful, and there is no reason for anyone to suffer from dry eyes”

Eating healthy-introducing fruits & green vegetables & increasing liquid diet also helps combat against dry eyes syndrome for people wearing contact lenses. 

Courtesy of :

PRwebShofnerVisionCentre

Some Facts about Contact Lens Fitting

Contact lenses are not one-size-fit-all. Yet, there are some simple rules about contact lens fitting, as the average size of a human iris is 14mm. Contact lenses with a base curve of 8.6 mm fits most of the people whilst the water content of 38% keep circle lenses moist & your eyes hydrated.

Meeting your Eye Care Professional

1. If you are wearing contact lenses for refractive index correction, you should meet your ophthalmologist for prescription needs such as astigmatism.
2. People who wear contact lenses for personality enhancement should also meet eye care professional as there are several conditions that might affect contact lens tolerance such as the use of certain medication like birth control pills.  
3. An eye care service provider will check your eyes to see if you are a successful candidate of contact lenses. Depending on your eye types; he will recommend you contact lenses that will fit your eyes whilst ensuring the maximum comfort.

Health of Cornea

• One should take note of the corneal health. Tear film evaluation often describes how your corneas behave with contact lenses. Some people find it uncomfortable to wear contact lenses. This happens because of the quick degeneration of lipid that is actually the upper most layer of tear-film; serving as the barrier between foreign substances and your eyes.

• In case of dry eyes syndrome; use FDA approved authentic eye drops. Not everyone needs eye drops. Circle lenses with water content 38% and above are comfortable to most of the eyes. However; people with sensitive eyes may opt for circle lenses above 50% water content or disposable circle lenses.

• If your eyes go worst when allergy season hits then you need to be extra careful & vigilant about the health of your eyes. This is how to manage contact lenses with allergies. (Also read: Contact Lenses, Dry Eyes & Winter)

• If you spend bigger portion of your day at working on computer then you are more likely to suffer from computer vision syndrome. Since working at computer alters the “blinking-rate” it indirectly affects the tear film production & aggravates the symptoms with contact lenses. This is how to manage contact lenses with computer vision syndrome.

Dry Eyes, Contact Lenses & Winter

Effective contact lens management is key to comfortable wearing sessions

With the onset of winters, contact lens tolerance has been badly affected in many regions of the world. Winters instigate dryness & contact lenses tend to aggravate it. Nonetheless, contact lens tolerance can be improved by the effective management of the "changing climate".

How to Tackle Dryness to Continue Wearing Contact Lenses in winter?

Dryness is a syndrome where eyes fail to meet adequate tear production. Due to the cold weather the tears are evaporated too quickly to keep eyes moisten. Upon wearing contact lenses the condition is aggravated even more since they are the barrier towards oxygen absorption. Contact lenses themselves are considered to be a dryness inducing agent. Every year a wide number of people are affected negatively by CLID (contact lens induced dryness) alone. Wearing contact lenses when the climate is harsh enough causes irritation & inflammation which needs effective management if you want to continue wearing your contact lenses.

Also Read:  Why do contact lenses turn my eyes dry?

 In winter; when it is snow outside you would not definitely want to go back to your conventional set of glasses just to end up with them being foggy. Prescription contact lenses have been the choice of millions to ensure clear, crisp & impeccable vision. It is an established fact; that with slight variations in lifestyle, one can improve contact lens tolerance for better. If you have ever felt discomfort due to wearing contact lenses because of reduced tear production then try following:

1. Drink plenty of water
2. Eat fresh fruits & vegetables
3. Avoid prolong working at computer
4. Do not over-wear contact lenses ( not more than 6 hours daily)
5. Use lubricating drops
6. Wear contact lenses with low water content (below 40%)

Re-wetting drops may make huge world of a difference. They add immediate comfort and help you with blinking. However, total dependency on lubricating drops may ruin your life. They should only be resorted to when nothing else seem to relieve the symptoms. Focus on making lifestyle changes on a long term course to see the difference or get your own pair of contact lenses for dry eyes for an immediate rescue.