You step inside from Calgary’s frigid winter air, and within minutes your eyes start feeling scratchy and irritated. The warm indoor heat that protects you from the cold also strips moisture from the air, and from your eyes. Calgary Optometry Centre sees many families dealing with this seasonal challenge, especially as Calgary’s winter months create the perfect conditions for dry eye symptoms.
Calgary’s winter weather creates a perfect storm for dry eyes because cold outdoor air holds less moisture, while indoor heating systems remove even more humidity from your living spaces.
How Calgary’s Winter Weather Affects Your Family’s Eye Health
When temperatures drop below freezing, the air outside naturally contains very little moisture. Your furnace works overtime to keep your home warm, but heating systems pull humidity out of indoor air as they circulate hot, dry heat throughout your house.
This double effect — cold, dry outdoor air and heated indoor spaces — drops your home’s humidity levels to as low as 10-20%. Your eyes need moisture to stay comfortable, and when humidity falls below 30%, your tear film starts to evaporate faster than your body can replace it.
Individuals often notice their eye discomfort gets worse as winter progresses. Children spend more time indoors and on devices, adults work longer hours under artificial lighting, and everyone’s eyes work harder to stay moist in the dry environment. Understanding what leads to dry eye symptoms can help you recognize when winter conditions are affecting your family’s eye health.
Signs Your Eyes Are Suffering from Dry Indoor Air
Your eyes give you clear signals when they’re struggling with Calgary’s dry winter air. These symptoms often start mild but can become more noticeable as the season continues.
- Scratchy or gritty feeling in the eyes
- Redness and irritation
- Watery eyes that tear up frequently
- Blurry vision that comes and goes
- Sensitivity to light
- Tired eyes after screen time
These symptoms can make daily activities uncomfortable for your whole family. Children might complain about their eyes hurting during homework time, while parents notice increased eye fatigue during work-from-home days. If symptoms persist, choosing the right eye drops can provide relief while you address the underlying environmental factors.
Simple Ways to Add Moisture Back into Your Home
Humidifiers for Every Room
A good humidifier can restore moisture to your home’s air and provide relief for dry eyes. Cool mist humidifiers work well for bedrooms, while larger console units can handle main living areas where your family spends most of their time.
You want to maintain indoor humidity levels between 30-50% during winter months. Most humidifiers come with built-in humidity controls, or you can buy an inexpensive hygrometer to monitor moisture levels in different rooms.
Natural Methods to Increase Indoor Humidity
You can add moisture to your home’s air without buying new equipment. Place shallow bowls of water near heat vents, hang wet towels on drying racks, or keep your bathroom door open after hot showers to let humid air circulate.
Houseplants like spider plants, peace lilies, and rubber trees naturally release moisture into the air through their leaves. These plants also help filter indoor air while adding humidity to your living spaces.
Furnace & Heating System Adjustments
Your heating system might have a built-in humidifier that needs winter activation or maintenance. Check your furnace manual or ask your heating technician about adding moisture back into your forced-air system.
Replace your furnace filter regularly during winter months to keep air flowing smoothly. A clean filter helps your heating system work more efficiently and reduces the amount of dry air circulating through your home.
Protect Your Eyes During Night Driving This Winter
Dry eyes make glare from oncoming headlights and streetlights much more bothersome during winter evening drives. When your eyes lack proper moisture, they can’t focus light as effectively, making bright lights appear to scatter and create halos around them.
Your tear film acts like a smooth surface that helps light enter your eyes clearly. When this film becomes unstable due to dryness, you might notice that glare seems worse than it did during summer months.
Night driving becomes more challenging for families when everyone’s eyes are dealing with winter dryness. Parents might notice increased difficulty seeing clearly during school pickup times or evening activities. For those with astigmatism, these challenges can be even more pronounced. Learn about specific strategies for night driving with this condition.
Before heading out for evening drives, blink deliberately several times to refresh your tear film. Keep artificial tears in your car for quick relief, and double-check that your windshield is clean to reduce additional glare from dirty glass, and keep your AC fan on a lower setting to minimize tear film evaporation.
Daily Habits That Keep Your Family’s Eyes Comfortable
Screen Time & Digital Device Tips
Winter months often mean more indoor time and increased screen use for the whole family. When you focus on digital devices, you blink less frequently, which reduces natural moisture distribution across your eyes.
Follow the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Remind family members to blink deliberately while using phones, tablets, or computers to help refresh their eyes naturally. Learn more about implementing the 20-20-20 rule effectively in your daily routine.
Nutrition & Hydration for Healthy Eyes
Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids like salmon, walnuts, and flaxseeds help support your body’s natural tear production. Dark leafy greens provide vitamins that contribute to overall eye health during challenging winter months.
Staying hydrated becomes more important when indoor air is dry. Encourage family members to drink water throughout the day, as proper hydration supports your body’s ability to produce quality tears. Research shows that properly esterized omega-3 supplements can help with dry eye symptoms when dietary sources aren’t sufficient.
Eye Drops & Artificial Tears
Over-the-counter artificial tears can provide quick relief when your eyes feel dry or irritated. Look for preservative-free options if you plan to use drops multiple times per day.
Different family members might need different types of eye drops. Children often do better with single-use vials, while adults might prefer bottles with longer-lasting formulations for office use.
When to Schedule Your Family’s Winter Eye Exam
If your family’s dry eye symptoms persist even after adding humidity to your home and using artificial tears, it might be time for professional evaluation. Chronic dry eyes can sometimes indicate underlying conditions that need specific treatment.
An eye exam can identify issues beyond simple dryness, such as changes in vision that might affect night driving or screen work. Our eye care team can also recommend prescription treatments that provide longer-lasting relief than over-the-counter options.
Winter is actually a good time to update glasses prescriptions and choose new frames that provide extra protection from harsh weather elements. Anti-reflective coatings can help reduce glare during night driving, while wraparound styles offer additional wind protection.
Calgary Optometry Centre provides comprehensive eye exams that address both seasonal eye comfort and overall eye health. The team can help your family find the right combination of treatments and protective eyewear to keep everyone comfortable throughout Calgary’s long winter months.
Schedule your family’s eye exam today to help everyone’s vision stay clear and comfortable all season long.
