Dry eyes – a common phenomenon in autumn and winter
This is Tina, she suffers from dry eyes
Tina's everyday life is hampered by her dry eyes.
With the right routine, she can get through the cold season comfortably again.
Learn what has helped Tina!
Especially in autumn and winter, when the temperatures become cooler and the air drier, Tina notices that her eyes get dry more often.
She feels a slight scratchy sensation, her eyes sting a little and her contact lenses are also no longer comfortable throughout the day.
She turned to Lensvision for help and discovered that this is partly normal. Dry eyes can occur or get worse due to dry air in winter and heating.
Fortunately, there is help: the right eye care routine can help you to enjoy everyday life again without any discomfort.
How do dry eyes feel? What are the symptoms of dry eyes?
Mild to strong burning and scratchy sensation
Wind and ventilation in the car feel more unpleasant than usual
The eyes are more tired in the evening and the eyelids feel slightly stinging
It is difficult to open your eyes in the morning
Contact lenses are no longer as comfortable and eyes are slightly irritated in the evening
Tina is wondering if she should go to the ophthalmologist about her dry eyes?
Lensvision recommends that she consider getting her eyes examined by an ophthalmologist if they are watery, red, intensely stinging or itchy.
Above all, if her eyes feel sticky in the morning or the eyelids are red, inflammation should be ruled out.
If the dryness is severe and causes pain or if there is encrustation of the eyelashes, a visit to the ophthalmologist is advised.
Eye care routine to alleviate dry eyes in autumn and winter
Tina had an online video consultation with an optometrist from Lensvision. The contact lens specialist explained to her that the best products only help if they are used correctly.
Dry eyes require regular care
The eye care routine leads to a long-term and above all lasting improvement in dry eyes. Ten minutes in the morning or evening are all it takes to make a lasting improvement. The more consistently the daily “eye care routine” is carried out, the better the chance of dry eyes soon becoming a thing of the past.
Lensvision has clear recommendations for the eye care routine
Eye drops and eye spray: short-term relief for 1 to 4 hours
Eye drops have different mechanisms of action and are the basis for alleviating dry eyes. They should be chosen in line with the symptoms.
"I happily recommend drops without any preservatives, as they are particularly gentle and tolerated by all eyes. All our eye drops can be used with contact lenses."
Daniela Tobergte
Optometrist at Lensvision
Here are our TOP eye drop recommendations:
Your eyes are sometimes a little dry
Systane Hydration PF offers a light moistening action, including if your lenses are somewhat uncomfortable.
Your eyes are sometimes quite dry and red or irritated in the evening
HYLO Care is particularly effective on mild irritation, as the dexpanthenol it contains rapidly repairs micro-injuries.
You tend to very dry, irritated eyes, that sometimes may be prone to weeping
Ocuela Sacha Inchi forms a protective layer with essential fatty acids and therefore not only moisturises but also helps to strengthen the tear film in the long term.
Here is our top eye spray recommendation:
A spray settles on the lashes and delivers its beneficial ingredients continuously for several hours. It thus provides optimal support for eye drops in the case of very dry eyes.
Your eyes are often dry and irritated and frequently prone to tears
Oculea Sea Buckthorn Spray relieves dry eyes by repeatedly delivering moisture every time you blink.
Heated eye mask and dietary supplements: long-term relief
When it comes to dry eyes, it is not just a matter of fighting the symptoms. The goal must be long-term improvement.
Eyelid therapy with iFlo heated eye mask
The mask gently warms the glands in the eyelids, so that natural secretion (lipids) flows better and the tear film is improved over the long term.
Tear film therapy with Oculea sea buckthorn capsules
The ingredients regenerate the tear film from within. The tear film is often lacking healthy fats and vitamins to establish a protective barrier.
Tina is wondering why her eyes became dry in the first place
What are the common causes of dry eyes?
Dry eyes are essentially a dysfunction of the tear film. Most often the lipid layer is too thin and the tear film therefore evaporates too quickly. There are countless reasons why, such as:
Dry air in the cold season, both outside and inside due to heating.
Insufficient nutrient intake, such as a lack of omega-3 fatty acids..
Marginal blepharitis, around 50% of the population have eyelid abnormalities that lead to dry eyes. The older we become, the more common they are.
Age, skin and mucous membranes become drier with age. This is particularly observed in menopausal women.
Underlying diseases such as diabetes, thyroid diseases, rheumatic diseases or skin diseases such as rosacea.
Medications and hormone preparations can greatly affect the tear film. It is best to talk to your doctor.
Screen-based work, people blink 15 times a minute on average, but only twice in front of a screen. This will dry out almost all eyes. Taking a break from time to time and consciously blinking can help.
Contact lenses influence the eye. Modern contact lenses are much more comfortable and can retain moisture better than older products even when the air is dry.
Natural disposition, some people are simply more prone to dry eyes.
General tips for dry eyes!
Drink enough liquids, at least 2 litres of water or tea a day.
A healthy diet with unsaturated fatty acids from plants and nuts.
Conscious blinking, also remembering to blink when at your computer and scheduling a short break in the fresh air every 20 minutes.
Humidify the air and regularly air the room in winter.
Avoid cigarette smoke.
Which contact lenses should Tina use with dry eyes?
Thanks to her new “eye care routine”, Tina can tolerate her contact lenses much better again. However, she would like to try new contact lenses. Lensvision explains that her lenses belong to an older version and modern lenses are not only healthier for her but would also primarily be more comfortable.
*This article was written by Daniela Tobergte. She is an optometrist at Lensvision and has over ten years' practical experience in contact lens consultation and fitting.