The extremity of any weather and season can have a profound effect on our vision as our eyes physically experience it. Eyes are delicate and are most likely to be affected by the change in weather immediately. The cornea, eyelid, lens, and sclera are most exposed to the elements.
Other factors such as pollution, smoke, and viral infections are also known to affect the eyes more when the weather changes. The many ailments that affect your eye health often affect the clarity of vision as your eyes begin to feel itchy, dry or painful.
Drier months can rob the moisture out of your eyes if you aren’t careful, which leads to excessive itching, making you more prone to contracting an eye infection. Moreover, increased levels of humidity can also cause your eyes to dry, leading to eye sores and poor vision.
The eyes often experience a burning sensation in extreme weather conditions, weather conditions such as mild sandstorms or strong winds can irritate the eyes. It becomes difficult to see in these conditions as the cornea freezes and leads to eyelid spasms, light sensitivity, and blurry vision. In some cases wearing sunglasses with UV protection can help against extreme weather, but if the condition persists it is advised to see the doctor. The increased airborne particles that are a consequence of strong winds or a sandstorm often are the cause of many eye-related diseases that have a strong, adverse effect on your vision.
There are instances in which the eyes experience excessive watering; this can also be caused by high temperatures or extremely cold weather. Your vision becomes blurry and regular wiping can cause the eyes to turn red and swell, which makes it extremely difficult to see clearly. This teary-eyed condition can also cause infections, which can damage your cornea and retina.
There are studies that have deduced that most of the formation of cataracts in the eyes is due to harmful UV rays. The UV radiations that are increasing due to the tearing in the ozone layer are also causing an increase in eye-related issues because you can’t protect your eyes from the sun.
Cold weather also causes the blood vessels around the eyes to become constricted causing blurry vision, and constant, uncomfortable spasms and twitching. There are studies that are being conducted to understand the effect of greenhouses gases on eyes. Green houses gasses are the foremost in pollutant destroying earth’s ozone layer, causing global warming. However, these gases can cause the eyes to feel gritty and dry, causing difficulties in seeing clearly.
It is crucial to take measures to prevent the effects of the weather on your eyes as the consequences of neglecting eye health can be serious. Wearing UV protection sunglasses and getting a prescription for eye drops is the best way to stay away from these issues. At places where you are likely to experience the sun directly, such as the beach or playgrounds, it is advised to wear large hats to block the glare of the sun.
