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Winter Dry Eyes

Calgary Optometry Centre answers common eye care questions:

Now that winter is here, you may notice that your eyes are affected by the colder, drier conditions. The front surface of the eyes are very much like skin and are more likely to chap and peel in the winter. There are two ways that your eyes may react to indicate that you have dry eyes.

1. Dry, gritty, scratchy or burning sensation of the eyes. This is the most common form of dry eyes.
   
   
2. Watering of the eyes. This is most noticeable when going outside into the cold, windy outdoors and is called reflex dry eye. This happens because a dry eye surface is very sensitive and factors like cold and/or wind cause the body to produce a large amount of tears.

Let us help

If you think you are experiencing winter related dry eyes, come see a Calgary Optometry Centre doctor for treatment. Depending on the severity of the dry eye, you may be prescribed artificial tear drops, medicated eye drops and/or lifestyle changes.

Continued at Part II