If your eyes feel like the Sahara desert or your vision seems blurrier than usual, don't panic. It could just be seasonal dry eyes. In winter it can get even worse, because the air is dry and the heating is on. The symptoms may include blurred and fluctuating vision, a gritty feeling in the eyes, and excessive watering.
Here are some tips to help alleviate the symptoms:
• Limit reading or heavy computer use, which can aggravate dry eyes because you don't blink as often.
• Provide humidifiers in the house and on office.
• Do not blow the car heater directly on your face.
• Take omega-3, such as fish or linseed oil to help improve the quality of the tear film.
• Use special eye drops.
• Contact lenses can make dry eyes even worse, so minimize their use if possible.
It can take 6-8 weeks to see improvements, but if symptoms persist, it's a good idea to see a doctor to make sure there's nothing else going on and to discuss alternative forms of treatment for dry eye.
