Monthly Archives: December 2020

Utah Eye Centers   →  Utah Eye Centers Blog   →  2020   →  December
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Keep your eyes comfortable in the winter

48368400_M (2)Cold weather outdoors and warm and dry air inside our homes can be hard on your eyes during the winter months. Here are two great ways to keep your eyes comfortable:

Moisturize your eyes. Outdoor and indoor air can get quite dry in the winter months, making it difficult for your eyes to produce tears. As a result, you may suffer from red and/or itchy and uncomfortable eyes. Humidifiers can help, as can eye drops. When you are outside or away from home, carry moisturizing eye drops with you. If dryness is a problem that over-the-counter eye drops cannot resolve, ask us whether prescription drops are right for you. There are a wide variety of eye drop options to help soothe red and itchy eyes.

Wear sunglasses outdoors. The sun can be especially hard on your eyes during the winter, especially when there’s snow. Wearing sunglasses while you drive or when you’re outside can help protect your vision from the sun’s harmful UV rays.

Invest in a quality pair specifically designed to provide UV eye protection, ideally with a rating of UV400 or higher that will block 99.9% of UV rays. Consider polarized sunglasses to reduce glare. If you frequently participate in outdoor winter sports, invest in a quality pair of eye goggles. We can help you determine which type of protective eyewear is right for you.

Utah Eye Centers is the leading provider of vision care along the Wasatch Front. Our mission is to provide each patient with a successful experience through personalized patient care and extraordinary service. We have convenient locations in Bountiful, Ogden, Orem and Salt Lake City, where our experienced doctors and staff offer comprehensive vision examinations.

Have a question about your eyes or want to make an appointment? Give us a call at (801) 476-0494. We look forward to seeing you!

Categories General Posted on Author

Protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful rays

17009073 - closeup portrait of a female skier standing on a skiing slopeDid you know that snow reflects up to 80 percent of the sun’s UV light? Or that even when it’s cloudy outside, the sun can still damage your eyes? That’s why protecting your eyes in the winter is just as important as in the summer. Many people don’t realize that the winter season — and snow and ice in particular — can be harmful to their eyes, even while driving through town or spending only a bit of time outdoors. Summer is definitely not the only time to shield your eyes from the sun!

The right type of sun protection can help prevent snow blindness, a painful eye condition caused by exposure to UV rays reflected from ice and snow, and other damage to your eyes. To protect your eyes, invest in a quality pair of sunglasses to wear year-round. Wear them anytime you’re outdoors. If you’re skiing, snowboarding or sledding, invest in a quality pair of goggles. Cheap sunglasses or goggles simply don’t provide the same type of protection as quality ones do. We can help you find a quality pair of sunglasses and/or goggles that are comfortable and protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful rays.

Winter can be hard on your eyes in other ways. Do you ever suffer from red or itchy eyes in the winter? Especially in drier climates where there is little to no moisture, using quality eye drops can help to keep your eyes from drying out in the winter. Wearing eye protection can definitely help combat dryness, too. Ask us about eye drops that also can help soothe your eyes during the months the heater is running and both indoor and outdoor air is dry. A humidifier in your home or office can be helpful as well.

Have questions about protecting your eyes during the winter months? We’re happy to answer any questions you may have. Schedule your next appointment today by calling (801) 476-0494.