The changing of seasons can alter our health in seemingly subtle ways. But although the changes in our bodies are not as obvious as a drought or icy roads, they can be dangerous. This is particularly important when considering eyesight, especially if you are visually impaired or have any disability that might affect your ability to care for your eye health yourself.
Winter
The main thing to focus on in winter is how dry the air is due to the lowered temperatures. This can cause a number of ocular issues, not least of which is drying out the eyes themselves. It is important to keep yourself hydrated by regularly drinking water.
However, if this is an issue due to a lack of mobility, keeping a humidifier in your home can help to combat the dryness of the heated indoor air. If you wear glasses, then perhaps consider hydrating contact lenses, such as the ones available from Vision Direct. These will help keep the dry air from affecting your eyesight.
Furthermore, if you are unable to leave your home or struggle do so regularly, you can buy contact lenses online, which will be even more convenient if the weather outside is unsafe.
Another danger in winter issue with experiencing changes to your vision, which are simply due to the cold temperature. The blood vessels around your eyes constrict when subjected to extremely low temperatures, causing immediate vision changes.
If you are visually impaired, it may be harder for you to pick up on the subtle changes of the season. The most obvious solution here is to stay out of the cold, especially for extended periods of time. You should also contact your doctor if you feel any changes, even if you have a pre-existing condition. Try to be safe rather than ignoring this – it could potentially worsen your eye health further.
Summer
The most obvious worry here is the damage the sun can do to your eyesight sun. As we can’t put suncream on our eyes, the easiest way to protect them when the sun is beaming down is to wear sunglasses or a large hat. We should also try to keep out of direct sunlight as much as possible.
For those who require glasses to help with their vision, it is possible to get sunglasses that are also prescription. There are also some fairly cheap contact lenses available with UV blocking filters on top, if that is what you would prefer to wear on a daily basis.
However, if you do wear contacts, swimming may be something that you have to avoid, unless you have a reliable pair of goggles to protect your contacts from water (which can lead to bacteria forming behind the lenses).
Protecting your eyes is mainly just about being sensible and taking precautions. If you are already partially sighted, looking after your remaining eyesight is incredibly important throughout the year and being aware of the risks that each change in season can provoke.
As for the rest of the seasons, you’ll need to consider the above tips in relation to the weather and to what the climate in your city feels like. Take care of your eyes properly to avoid further issues and ensure comfort.
By Hannah Barr
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