Act on these 2 essential tips to maximise the benefits of wearing contact lenses during winter!

1—Winter: Coping is Easier Sled Than Done

Did you know? Winter season equals lower humidity levels, leading to a decrease in moisture in the air, dramatically impacting what we call the “feels like” temperature. So yep, those typical overcast workdays and windy, unsettled weekends significantly impact your vision, comfort and eye health.

How?

Dry eye syndrome can be exacerbated in colder temperatures, as moving through indoor heating systems and cold winds outdoors contribute to the evaporation of tear film from the eye surface. So, this dry environment can cause the eyes to become irritated and dry out. Many Tasmanians experience this on an acute level, leading to dry eye symptoms such as itching, burning, redness, and a gritty sensation.

How, then, are contact lens wearers affected?

Dry eyes (due to low humidity as a seasonal cause) and regular contact lens wear can make for a painful combination. Therefore, your freshly opened pair of contact lenses can dry out sooner than anticipated. If you’re in the habit of maximising your contact lenses’ wear time, you’re likely trying to get 8-10 hours out of a pair! How can you get around this if you rely on contact lenses for all-day clarity?

• Use lubricating eye drops or re-wetting drops to prevent dryness and maintain tear-film moisture. Ask your optometrist for a suitable product that supports ongoing contact lens wear. The right choice of eye drops can make or break your visual comfort and prescription contact lens experience during winter.

What, though, if you’ve already begun to feel the wintery effects of contact lenses, dry eye, and low humidity? Don’t panic. But don’t ignore it and try and push through the day, whether at work or getting an early run on the snow fields.

Rather, get in touch with a local optometrist. Independently operating optometrists are available at either branch of Island Optical, offering bulk-billed eye tests, making discussing your specific eyecare and contact lens needs simple and easy.

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• Stay Hydrated! We may think of our bodies needing water each day in a general sense, but do we get how our eyes benefit, specifically? Proper hydration improves tear volume, and when we talk about tears, we don’t just mean when we have a good cry [like a common reaction to the satisfying ending of Season 3 of The Mandalorian or the latest season of Farmer Wants A Wife].

Anyway… tears are expressed every time we blink. So the natural process of expressing tears as we blink benefits our eyes and assists with the comfortable all-day wear of contact lenses.

So drink up for comfortable contact lenses (water that is!)

2—Allergies Exist In Winter Too

Did you know? Allergies aren’t just a ‘springtime’ thing.

While seasonal allergies are commonly associated with warmer seasons, some individuals may experience eye allergies even in colder months. For example, allergens such as mould spores and dust mites can be present indoors during winter when people spend more time in enclosed spaces with inadequate ventilation [you know, like sitting around the heater during Hard Quiz or by that glorious open fireplace at your rich cousins’ house].

These allergens can trigger allergic conjunctivitis, causing symptoms like redness, itching, watering, and swelling of the delicate eyelid zones around the eyes—another significant impact on regular contact lens wearers!

Again, we encourage you to speak to an optometrist for some quality care and peace of mind (did we mention we offer access to bulk bill optometrist services in either Island Optical location?) and contact lens care.

So. whether your contact lens routine needs some winter-time tweaking with further water intake and eye drops recommendations, or your eyes are susceptible to the seasonal specifics of winter—in all its low humidity glory—and you need prompt, affordable advice, rest assured that your eyecare family here at Island Optical have your eyes in good hands.

And remember: Quality contact lens care during winter allows you to go where snowman has gone before!

ISLAND OPTICAL
HOBART (03) 6231 3640

ISLAND OPTICAL
LAUNCESTON (03) 6331 1008