Common Eye Problems in Winter

Winters can be harsh and especially for the eyes. The most common eye complaint in winter is dryness, which results in burning and itching sensation in eyes and at times a feeling of foreign body sensation.

This may be due to

1. Cold and dry air in atmosphere

2. Low humidity level in air inside the home or office (especially in AC rooms)

3. Increased quantity of dust in air from post monsoon dried soil due to change in direction of wind (up to monsoons, the direction of wind is from west to east while it changes in winter from north east to west south)

Spending time outdoors on windy winter days can also have a drying effect. People who wear contact lenses are the ones most likely to experience this problem, but it can affect anyone, particularly peri- and post-menopausal women who may have eye dryness because of loss of estrogen.

Over time, dryness can cause blurred vision or damage the cornea, which can also lead to blurriness. People residing in snow or more skiing, skating or shovelling snow, exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun’s reflection on ice or snow can damage the eye’s surface, causing an inflammation of the cornea called keratitis.

Dry Eye syndrome is common in winter because of cold, dry outdoor air and dry indoor heat. Symptoms include pain, blurred vision, a scratchy or burning sensation, or even watery eyes as the eyes try to compensate for the dryness. Because both dry eye and allergies can cause watery eyes, differentiating the two conditions can be difficult and may require an eye examination. Dry eye can occur at any age, but is more common among older adults, especially post-menopausal women. Severe dry eye can make one more vulnerable to corneal infections, which can permanently affect the vision.

Farmers are more exposed to eye problems in winter. Early winter is the period of rearing the grains from the most of the ready crops. While in rearing processes of grains, flake particles, increased production of pollen grains from weeds can directly harm the eyes of farmers. Common problems are injury from such objects, allergic conjunctivitis from pollen grains, blockade of nasolacrimal duct, infectious conjunctivitis, etc.

The Diwali festival arriving in early winter causes air pollution due to gases from fireworks. Carbon monoxide from these constituents is most harmful to cornea causing atrophy of superficial epithelium layer of cornea. Also a small fraction bound to hemoglobin in the circulation also causes chronic toxicity to retina and also vasospasm of retinal vessels.

Further, due to the cold climate, the metabolism of the body needs increases thereby requiring increased nutrition. Malnutrition and improper food habits leads to deficiencies of vitamins like A,C & B complexes. This may affect health of eyes. Common problems are Night blindness, Bitot’s spot, conjunctival xerosis (all due to Vitamin A deficiency), sunken sclera, blurred vision, etc.

Eye Care in Winter

Keep eyes moist. This will protect it from most of the problems arising in winter. Secretion of Lacrimal glands (tears) also itself acts as antiseptic, preventing infection of eyes. To increase spontaneous production of tears (secretion of Lacrimal gland in eye) is natural shield of eyes. According to Ayurveda, regular (daily) Anjankarma has been advised as per sheetritucharya. Jiwadaya Netraprabha, a pure herbal and safe Anjan (medicine for Anjankarma) stimulates lacrimal glands to increase tear production. Also, its ingredients give nutrition to different eye structures to be strong enough to counter different eye problems in winter.