Autumn brings cool days and a chance to spend some time outdoors without worrying about scalding temperatures. The colors and scenes are magnificent as the trees turn yellow or red, and some shed their leaves. You can engage in camping activities, sit around bonfires, and prepare your garden for winter.

However, the season is not fun for everyone. Some dread autumn because it also welcomes allergens that worsen their dry eyes. Their eyes get red, gritty, sensitive, and sometimes painful. Read on if this is your view of the season and you dread it every time it comes.

How can you prevent dry eyes this season?

Drink Water

Water helps wash away allergens in our system. The more water you drink, the more your eyes can generate a healthy volume of tears. Tears are vital to the eyes. They protect them from infections by washing away dust, dirt, and allergens.

An adequate tear film will reduce irritations and dry eyes. The cold air of the season can cause your eyes to dry out. But when you have a healthy volume of tears, they protect your eyes from drying out.

Use a Humidifier

The cold air during this season can dry out your eyes. When you get into the house, you may feel the urge to switch the heat on so you can warm up. However, it also makes the air dry. The drier the air, the more likely it will dry your eyes. Thus, use a humidifier instead. It is better for those who have dry eye syndrome.

Avoid Smoking

Smoking produces free radicals that attack the cells in your eyes and dry them out. It also accelerates aging through oxidative stress. The radicals enter your blood vessels through your eyes.

Thus, the habit may irritate your dry eyes further. If you stop smoking, you will not have to worry about dry eyes too much. Smoking can hinder the blood supply to the eyes. It will also reduce the number of antioxidants getting to them.

Wear Safety Goggles

Wearing goggles when you work outside will help you avoid allergens. They will not be able to encounter your eyes to irritate them. It will also help preserve the moisture in your eyes since the cold air will not blow over them directly.

Treatment for Dry Eyes

You can also use medication or receive treatment to mitigate dry eyes in autumn. One of the best ways to treat dry eyes is by cleaning them. Use sterile saline and let it run over your eyes to wash away any allergens. You can also use a heating pad to open the meibomian glands if there is a blockage.

There are over-the-counter eye drops that can help relieve the condition. Punctal plugs are also an option. These are tiny devices that fit into your eyes' tear ducts. They prevent the eyes from losing excess moisture, leaving them moist and comfortable.

For more information on the prevention and treatment of dry eyes, visit Clarity Vision at our Clayton, North Carolina office. Call (919) 550-4801 to schedule an appointment today.