What to Expect During a Diabetic Eye Exam
Living with diabetes means keeping a closer eye on your health — literally. Diabetic eye exams play a central role in preventing vision problems. Here’s what to expect during your exam.
Winter Is Coming: How to Protect Your Eyes from the Cold and Dry Air
Winter is here, and in New York, that means it’s the perfect time for taking part in winter sports or staying indoors and snuggling under a warm blanket. Unfortunately, winter’s drier air also means an increase in uncomfortable eye symptoms, like dryness, irritation, and itching.
At Long Island Ophthalmic Concepts, our team understands how even minor eye discomfort can significantly impact your overall quality of life. In this post, they offer some simple solutions to help you protect your eyes this winter so that you can keep discomfort at bay.
1. Grab some artificial tears
Indoors or outdoors, winter means drier air, and that means more irritation for your eyes. Over-the-counter lubricating eye drops (also known as artificial tears) help replenish your eyes’ natural tears, moisturizing the eyes while relieving uncomfortable symptoms.
Many artificial tear brands are available, but if you plan to use them frequently, it’s a good idea to look for preservative-free versions. Keep a bottle next to your bed, at your desk, near your TV, and in your car to ensure relief is always close at hand.
2. Invest in a humidifier
Artificial tears help lubricate your eyes directly, but you can also ease symptoms by adding moisture to the air around you. As the name implies, a humidifier adds humidity or moisture to the air, benefiting not only your eyes but also your dry skin. (Bonus: A humidifier can help ease symptoms associated with winter allergies and asthma, too.)
Again, placing a humidifier in the rooms that get the most use is a good idea to provide maximum relief. Or opt for a portable version that can be carried from room to room.
3. Wear sunglasses or goggles
Cold, dry air isn’t the only outdoor irritant you need to think about. Snow and ice can be problematic, too. Sun and glare reflected from these light-colored surfaces can cause considerable eye irritation while also exposing your eyes to UV radiation.
Wearing sunglasses every day is just as important in the winter as in the summer, and if you do winter sports, goggles or wraparound glasses are even better. Wearing eye protection whenever you’re outdoors blocks cold wind and helps keep moisture near your eye surface, too.
4. Avoid Direct Heat on Your Face
Heaters, fireplaces, and woodstoves offer much-needed warmth and coziness during the cold winter months, but they can also make your eyes really dry.
To protect your eyes, don’t face directly into a heat source. Instead, tilt vents away from you to enjoy the warmth without the dryness. Follow the same habit with your car’s heater vents, too.
5. Stay Hydrated
It’s easy to remember to drink plenty of water when you’re hot and sweaty, but cold air can dry us out, too — and that means staying hydrated is just as important. When it comes to your eyes, ample hydration supports tear film production, keeping your eyes lubricated and comfortable.
Carry a water bottle with you and make sipping a regular habit. Herbal teas and warming soups help you stay hydrated, too. Limit caffeine and alcohol, though, since both can lead to dehydration.
6. Take Breaks From Screens
Shorter daylight hours typically result in more time spent indoors, and that often means more time spent surfing the internet or watching TV. While these habits can definitely be relaxing and entertaining, they can also cause eye irritation and strain.
Fortunately, there’s a simple solution: Practice the 20-20-20 rule — every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. You can also reduce strain by lowering screen brightness, using the built-in blue-light filters on your computer and phone, and keeping devices at arm’s length (or farther away).
The perfect time for an eye exam
Once the holidays are behind you and the new year has begun, make some time to schedule your annual eye exam. Annual exams are one of the best ways to protect your vision and find simple strategies to avoid eye symptoms, like grittiness or itching. And of course, your exam gives us a chance to look for subtle signs of vision problems so they can be treated as early as possible.
To schedule your exam or to learn other ways to protect your vision, request an appointment online or over the phone with the team at Long Island Ophthalmic Concepts in Bellmore and Great Neck, New York, today.
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