The Hidden Causes of Winter Dry Eye (and How to Treat It)

Winter often brings increased eye irritation, but the causes are more than just chilly weather. Dry indoor heat, long hours at screens, and seasonal allergies can all disrupt your tear film and make your eyes feel gritty, itchy, or tired. When your tears evaporate too quickly or fail to protect the surface of your eyes, that’s what we call dry eye, a very common condition that worsens in colder months.

Why Dry Eye Gets Worse in Winter

Dry indoor heat: Heaters reduce moisture in the air, causing faster tear evaporation.
Screen time: Long hours at computers and phones reduce blinking, which destabilizes the tear film.
Seasonal allergies: Dust and indoor allergens can irritate sensitive eyes.
Tear imbalance: If your tears lack the right balance of oil, water, or mucus, dryness worsens in cold weather.

How We Diagnose and Treat Dry Eye

At Today’s Vision Richmond, we can detect the underlying cause of your dry eye through a detailed evaluation of your tear film, oil glands, eyelid health, and lifestyle patterns. Once we understand what’s driving your symptoms, we offer treatments such as: