Anyone who has walked across a Minneapolis skyway gap in January, or waited at a bus stop with the wind coming off the Mississippi, knows the feeling: eyes that sting, burn and then pour tears down your cheeks. It seems strange, but those watery eyes are often dry eyes.
How tears normally work
The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) explains that tears have three layers. An oily outer layer, made by glands in the eyelids, keeps tears from evaporating too fast. A watery middle layer, mostly from the lacrimal gland, washes the eye. An inner mucus layer helps tears stick to the surface. Dry eye happens when the eyes do not make enough tears, make the wrong kind, or tears dry out too quickly.
Why dry eyes water
The AAO lists “lots of tears in your eyes” as a dry eye symptom. When the surface gets irritated by dryness or poor-quality tears, the eyes make extra reflex tears to compensate. Those reflex tears are mostly water and do not protect the surface well, so the cycle repeats.
Winter triggers
Among the causes the AAO lists are being in smoke, wind or a very dry climate, and long stretches of screen time or reading that reduce blinking. A Minnesota winter combines biting wind outdoors with heated, dry air indoors. The AAO also notes that eyes are often especially red and irritated in wind.
Other causes to mention to your doctor
- Age and hormonal changes, especially after menopause
- Conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren’s syndrome, thyroid disease and lupus
- Eyelid problems such as blepharitis
- Long-term contact lens use
- Medicines including antihistamines, some blood pressure medicines, antidepressants and sleeping pills
Practical cold-weather habits
- Wear wraparound glasses or sunglasses in the wind.
- Use artificial tears, which the AAO describes as a first step in treatment.
- Run a humidifier at home and point car vents away from your face.
- Take screen breaks and blink fully.
For in-depth articles on dry eye testing and treatments, see this dry eye education blog.
If your eyes water every time you step outside, do not just wipe and carry on. An eye exam can check your tear film and eyelids and find the real cause.
Source: What Is Dry Eye? Symptoms, Causes and Treatment (American Academy of Ophthalmology). This article is an educational summary written by Khanna Vision Institute and is not a substitute for medical advice.