Have your eyes been feeling tired, burning and stingy since winter started?
Do your eyes constantly feel sore, watery, or gritty – especially by the end of the day?
Or maybe you’ve noticed your child blinking and rubbing their eyes more than usual?
If you or someone you love is struggling with dry, irritated eyes this season… you’re not alone.
The good news? You don’t have to just put up with it.
Let’s take a look at why winter is harsh on your eyes — and 7 ways you can start feeling better.
Why Winter Makes Dry Eyes Worse
Dry eye symptoms often flare up during colder months – and not just for adults. Kids can suffer too, though they may not know how to express it clearly.
Here’s why winter is tough on the eyes:
-
Indoor heating dries out the air and strips moisture from your tear film
-
Cold winds outside irritate and destabilise the eye surface
-
Blepharitis (eyelid inflammation) often flares up due to dry skin and clogged oil glands
Now that we know the causes, here’s what you can do about it.
1. Blink More, Break Often
Screens are a major contributor to dry eyes. Whether you’re working, watching videos, or your child is doing homework – prolonged screen time reduces blink rate, which dries out the eyes faster.
- Use the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
- Encourage conscious blinking, especially when focusing for long periods.
2. Adjust Your Heating Setup
Heaters can be a hidden cause of dry eyes — especially if warm air is blowing directly on your face while you sleep, work, or relax.
Tip: Avoid sitting too close to split systems, portable heaters, or vents. Position heaters to blow away from your face, not toward it.
3. Use Preservative-Free Lubricating Eye Drops
Preservative-free artificial tears are one of the easiest ways to hydrate your eyes throughout the day. They’re gentle, safe for frequent use, and suitable for both adults and children.
4. Use a Humidifier Indoors
If you rely on heating indoors, a humidifier can help keep the air moist and prevent your tears from evaporating too quickly. This is especially helpful in bedrooms, offices, or living areas with split systems or central heating.
5. Keep Your Eyelids Clean and Oil Glands Healthy
If your eyes often feel itchy, crusty, or irritated — especially along the lash line — it could be due to blepharitis or blocked oil glands, two very common causes of dry eyes.
Doing some simple daily lid care at home can make a big difference.
Here’s what you can do:
-
Use a warm compress (like a clean warm towel or a reusable heat mask) to soften the natural oils around your eyelid glands
-
Follow up with eyelid wipes or foam cleansers to gently clean your lashes and remove any built-up oils, flakes, and bacteria
Think of it like brushing your teeth — but for your eyelids. A little daily care goes a long way in keeping your eyes comfortable and your tear film stable.
6. Protect Your Eyes Outdoors
Do your eyes start watering the moment you step outside into the cold or wind?
It might feel like you’re producing too many tears — but this is actually a common sign of dry eyes. When cold air dries out your eyes too quickly, your body goes into overdrive and floods them with watery tears that don’t actually fix the problem.
One easy solution? Pop on a pair of glasses before heading out.
Regular glasses can create a barrier that helps shield your eyes from the elements — and if you’re particularly sensitive to wind or glare, wrap-around sunglasses offer even more protection. They’re especially useful for school runs, outdoor walks, or exercise in chilly weather.
7. Book a Dry Eye Assessment for Long-Term Relief
If home remedies aren’t enough to shake off that annoying dry, gritty, or burning feeling in your eyes — we’re here to help you feel better.
At The Eye Collective, we offer dry eye assessments to figure out what’s really causing your symptoms — whether it’s dryness, blocked oil glands, or eyelid inflammation. Once we know the cause, we’ll create a plan to help you feel more comfortable. That might include:
-
A deep eyelid clean (in-office lid cleaning treatment) – If your eyes often feel itchy, irritated, or crusty around the lashes (especially in the morning), you might have a condition called blepharitis. We can do a professional clean of your eyelids to remove the built-up oils, bacteria and debris causing the irritation.
-
Blephasteam therapy – If your eyes feel dry, tired, or watery all the time, you may have blocked oil glands. This treatment uses a warm, soothing eye mask to gently unblock those glands and help your natural tears stay on your eyes longer.
-
IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) therapy – For people with stubborn dry eyes that just keep coming back, IPL is a light-based treatment that helps reduce inflammation around the eyes and improves oil flow — making your eyes feel less dry and sore in the long run.
-
Finding the right type of eye drops for you – Not all dry eyes are the same. We’ll help you choose the best preservative-free lubricating drops for your specific type of dry eye. If needed, we can also prescribe medicated drops to treat underlying inflammation or eyelid issues.
-
Personalised advice – Whether it’s for yourself or your child, we’ll give you a clear, step-by-step plan to manage symptoms and feel more comfortable each day.
With the right care, your eyes can feel comfortable again – even in the driest, chilliest months.