Why Your Eyes Water More in the Winter

If you’ve noticed that your eyes tend to water more than usual during the colder months, you’re not alone. Winter’s unique blend of chilly outdoor air and dry indoor environments can throw your eyes’ moisture levels off balance. While it might seem contradictory, dryness often leads to increased tearing as your eyes work overtime to compensate. Below, we’ll explore what’s happening and how you can find relief.

What Causes Excessive Tearing in Winter?

1. Cold, Dry Air: Cooler temperatures mean the air holds less moisture, causing it to feel drier. This dryness irritates your eyes and can trigger reflex tearing. According to theAmerican Academy of Ophthalmology, dryness can prompt your eyes to produce more tears in an attempt to maintain comfort.
2. Harsh Winds: Winter winds quickly strip away moisture from the eye’s surface. This rapid evaporation leads to irritation and can cause an overproduction of tears as your eyes try to re-lubricate themselves.
3. Indoor Heating: Central heating and space heaters reduce indoor humidity, contributing to dryness and irritation. TheNational Eye Institute notes that maintaining a more balanced indoor environment can help ease dryness symptoms, which in turn can reduce reflexive tearing.
4. Increased Screen Time: Longer evenings indoors often mean more hours in front of screens. According to the American Optometric Association, extended screen use reduces blink rates and can contribute to dry, irritated eyes—leading to compensatory tearing.

How to Find Relief

1. Use a Humidifier: Adding moisture back into the indoor air helps counteract the dryness caused by heating systems. The American Academy of Ophthalmology advises improving indoor humidity to ease dryness, which can help prevent excessive tearing.
2. Wear Wind Protection Outdoors: Sunglasses or wraparound eyewear can shield your eyes from cold, gusty winds, helping prevent moisture loss and excess tearing.
3. Take Screen Breaks: Following the 20-20-20 rule (every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds) is recommended by eye care specialists to reduce irritation from prolonged screen time.
4. Apply a Warm Compress or Use a Heated Eye Wand: According to theNational Eye Institute, gently applying a warm compress over your closed eyes can help ease dryness-related discomfort. By soothing irritated eyes, this simple step may also help reduce excessive tearing.
5. Use an Eye Spray or Drops: TheNational Eye Institute recommends preservative-free eye drops or sprays to restore comfort. These can directly add moisture to your eyes, helping mitigate dryness and reduce excessive tearing.