How To Combat Dry Eyes During Kansas City Winters

Although the uncomfortable symptoms of dry eye disease can strike at any time during the year, they are particularly common during the winter months. Cold, windy weather, low humidity and indoor heating can exacerbate the itching, burning, redness and foreign body sensation associated with dry eye disease. In this post, the ophthalmologists at Wiles Eye Center discuss some of the best ways to combat dry eye symptoms during Kansas City winters.

Run a Humidifier Indoors

One of the first things you can try to minimize dry eye symptoms during the winter is to run a humidifier indoors. This will add moisture back into the dry air that can help soothe dry eyes.

Avoid Heat Blowing Directly on Your Face

Blasting your car’s heater directly in your face or sitting under a heating vent can worsen your dry eye symptoms. Angle your car’s vents away from your face and, if possible, shift your furniture around so your house’s heating vents are not directly blowing into your eyes.

Manage Screen Times

In colder temperatures, we naturally spend more time inside (and often using screens). But prolonged screen time exacerbates dry eye disease. Try to limit your leisure time spent watching television, playing video games and browsing social media on your smartphone or tablet. When using screens, take frequent breaks to give your tired eyes a brief respite.

Eat Eye-Friendly Foods

Consuming foods that contain high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, like salmon, flaxseed or walnuts, can help to lubricate dry eyes. (An alternative option is to take an omega-3 supplement.) Foods rich in vitamin C, vitamin E and vitamin A are also eye friendly. These include citrus fruits, carrots, leafy green vegetables and sweet potatoes.

Try Artificial Tears

Artificial tears are a reliable way to get relief from dry eye symptoms. The tears add much-needed moisture back to the eyes.

Consult With Wiles Eye Center

If these lifestyle changes do not improve your dry eye symptoms, it may be time to consult with our team of experts. We can determine the underlying cause of the problem — it could be a lack of tears or a problem with the tears’ composition — and recommend the most suitable course of action.

Depending on your circumstances, prescription eyedrops, intense pulsed light therapy or tear duct plugs could resolve your troublesome symptoms. We will oversee your treatment and make modifications as needed so you can enjoy lasting relief from dry eye.

To request an appointment with our ophthalmologists to discuss your dry eye symptoms, please call or email Wiles Eye Center today.

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Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month: Watch for These Warning Signs

Every November, Wiles Eye Center participates in Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month in an effort to make more people aware of the effects of the disease. Our ophthalmologists encourage people who are at risk to get screened early, so they can start prompt care if diagnosed. Early intervention and timely treatment are key to limiting the effects of diabetic eye disease on long-term vision.

In this post, our team reviews the warning signs that people with diabetes should watch for. If you experience any of the following warning signs, we urge you to schedule a screening with our eye doctors.

What Are the Warning Signs of Diabetic Eye Disease?

Diabetes causes changes to the small blood vessels that nourish the retina. The blood vessels can leak blood and other fluids into the retina. This condition is called diabetic retinopathy. In the early stages of diabetic retinopathy, there may be no symptoms. As the disease progresses, warning signs can include the following:

• Blurry vision
• Floaters (objects – e.g., spots, strings, specks – that appear to float around in the visual field)
• Flashes of light (streaks or sparks of light that appear in the visual field)
• Dark or blank spots in vision

Sometimes diabetic eye disease can affect the macula. The macula is the part of the retina that controls the clarity of our central vision as well as our color vision. Fluid that leaks from the retinal blood vessels can build up and cause the macula to swell. This is called diabetic macular edema. If diabetic macular edema occurs, central and color vision can be affected. Warning signs of diabetic macular edema include the following:

• Blurriness or distortion in the center of the visual field
• Colors that appear faded or yellowed

Note that these symptoms are not exclusive to diabetic eye disease. Sometimes they can indicate other problems with the eyes. A qualified eye doctor can discuss your symptoms with you, perform appropriate testing and provide you with an accurate diagnosis.

Managing Diabetic Eye Disease

Diabetic eye disease is treatable. If you are evaluated and diagnosed with diabetic eye disease, our team of experts can discuss your best treatment options based on the type and severity of your condition. That could entail undergoing an in-office laser procedure, or an eye surgery, or receiving injections to stop the damage to the retinal blood vessels.

Our diabetic eye disease experts will act quickly to stop the disease from advancing and prevent additional vision loss. We can coordinate with other members of your medical team, such as your endocrinologist or primary care physician, to keep them up to date on your ongoing eye care.

It is crucial that you follow your medical team’s advice to bring your blood sugar and other vitals under control. Well-controlled diabetes is less likely to permanently affect your ocular health.

To request an eye exam and screening for diabetic eye disease, please contact Wiles Eye Center today.

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