While you likely know that it’s harmful to sleep in your contact lenses, you should also try to avoid wearing them in the pool and the shower. However, most wearers don’t realize that even cold weather can have an adverse effect on contacts. In some cases, you may even find you’re more comfortable wearing your glasses on certain days. Here’s what you should know if you wear contacts.

How Does Cold Weather Impact Your Eyes?

If you wear your contact lenses outside, much of the discomfort that you might feel could be due to plummeting temperatures. The chill in the air can cause your contacts to dry out, which can aggravate symptoms if you already experience the condition medically known as dry eye. Even common wintertime habits, like relaxing in front of a fireplace and using the heater in your car, can leave your contacts drier than usual.

Cold weather can inadvertently affect your contacts, too. Many people spend more time inside the home at this time of the year in an effort to avoid colder temperatures and snowy conditions. Because you’re more exposed to indoor allergens as a result, like mold spores, pet dander, and dust mites, there’s a greater chance that your eyes will develop allergic symptoms like wateriness and itchiness. This can make it uncomfortable to leave your contact lenses in, and you might prefer to swap them for your glasses at that point.

How You Can Make It More Comfortable?

You don’t have to avoid wearing your contact lenses entirely during winter. It’s just a matter of taking a few precautionary measures to protect your eyes during this time of the year. For starters, keep a small bottle of lubricating eye drops that are safe for contact lens wearers with you. Whenever you feel your eyes getting dry, add a drop or two to elevate moisture levels.

If possible, avoid standing directly in front of heat sources. You can still use your heating system in the car, but direct the blowers away from your face so the heat doesn’t affect your contact lenses. Wearing sunglasses is helpful too, since they create a barrier that prevents your contacts from exposure. Of course, it also safeguards your eyes from harmful ultraviolet rays at the same time. You might also want to wear your eyeglasses more often to let your eyes rest.

If it's time to schedule an exam with an eye doctor to get a new prescription for glasses, visit Pal Optical and Drs. Klecker snd Robbins in Lexington, KY. Their team of experienced professionals put your eye health first. If you need a new pair of glasses or prescription sunglasses, they can help. Visit the website for more information, or call (859) 269-6921 to schedule an appointment.