Indoor heating dries the air and speeds up tear evaporation, which can worsen dry eye as early as autumn. Eyes may then sting or water more, especially when the tear film is already weakened.

Dry eye is often underestimated, but it is a serious condition that can worsen over time. For the 30% of the population who suffer from it, autumn often marks the beginning of a period of increased discomfort.

Why Heating Worsens Dry Eye

Dry eye occurs when tear production is insufficient or when tear composition is compromised by a dysfunction of the Meibomian glands. Located at the base of our eyelashes, these glands produce, with each blink, an oil that maintains the hydration of the ocular surface: meibum. The clinical signs or symptoms associated with dry eye, such as eyes that sting or water, appear when this secretion is altered.

When tears lack meibum (the protective oil layer), the water on the surface of the eye evaporates too quickly. In response to this irritation, the eye produces an excess of reflex tears. But since these tears still lack the fatty components needed to retain moisture, they evaporate or drain away without relieving the dryness.

With the arrival of cold weather, heating systems reclaim their place in Quebec homes. However, a heated environment reduces ambient humidity, which weakens a tear film already compromised by a lack of meibum. The result: accelerated evaporation of tears and symptoms that intensify as early as autumn.

Winter Amplifies All Other Risk Factors

Heating is not the only culprit. Winter brings with it a combination of factors that, together, aggravate the condition: cold and dry outdoor air, wind that accelerates tear film evaporation, and repeated transitions between two environments with opposing humidity levels continuously stress the eyes.

To this are added the increased screen time that comes with cold weather: tablets, smartphones, televisions and computers. The use of these devices considerably reduces our blink frequency. As the Meibomian glands become underused, they eventually become blocked, can atrophy and, eventually, disappear completely.

Individual factors also intensify in winter. Women going through menopause, whose hormonal changes already affect tear film quality, often experience a worsening of their symptoms when the air dries out. Contact lens wearers, for their part, face increased discomfort as soon as ambient humidity drops.

The Signs Your Eyes Are Sending You

As the cold season sets in, the eyes send signals that should not be ignored. These symptoms may appear gradually or intensify from one week to the next:

• Dry eyes that sting or water
• Redness, discomfort, burning sensations or constant itching
• Sensitivity to light, blurred and fluctuating vision
• Intolerance to contact lenses

Dry eye is not a trivial condition. Without a diagnosis, it progresses silently and becomes increasingly difficult to treat, until the damage becomes irreversible. Autumn is precisely the right time to consult, before winter symptoms become a lasting reality.

Simple Habits to Protect Your Eyes This Winter

If your symptoms are mild, certain daily adjustments can make a real difference while you wait to consult. Avoiding excessive forced-air heating, increasing humidity in your living spaces and scheduling frequent visual breaks from screens are all habits that contribute to protecting the tear film during the cold season.

These measures can relieve temporary discomfort, but they do not address the underlying cause. If your symptoms persist or worsen with the cold, a clinical evaluation is the next step.

What Eye Am Can Do for You

Eye Am has been a pioneer in the detection and treatment of dry eye since 2016. We have treated thousands of patients to date, with an unmatched level of satisfaction on the market. We are the only clinic to have access to the full range of technologies authorized by Health Canada. Since dry eye is a multifactorial disease, having all treatments at our disposal allows us to target each of the components responsible for the condition.

Before any treatment, an evaluation is conducted to determine the best course of care. Your optometrist will identify the exact cause of your dry eye: aqueous deficiency, lipid deficiency or a combination of both, and will propose an appropriate treatment plan to correct the problem in the short, medium and long term.

Treatments available at Eye Am:

• LipiFlow®: painless, this technology uses a precise algorithm to unblock the glands responsible for dry eye
• iLux®: this device manually applies heat and pressure to clear obstructions in the glands
• IPL: this technology stimulates the Meibomian glands and prevents early evaporation of the tear film (particularly effective in the presence of ocular rosacea)
• Photobiomodulation (LLLT): this technology uses low-intensity light to activate ATP production, responsible for regulating and stabilizing the tear film
• Radiofrequency: a non-invasive technology that uses thermal waves to liquefy meibum and stimulate its production by the Meibomian glands
• Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP): a natural therapy prepared from the patient's own blood, whose platelets contain growth factors that promote the regeneration of damaged tissues

Given the prevalence of dry eye in the population, a screening test is strongly recommended at every annual eye exam. Don't wait until you are suffering to consult!