How to Keep Your Lenses Hydrated, Clean, and Comfortable
At Eyes Harvest Hills, we understand that wearing contact lenses in colder, drier weather can sometimes present unique challenges. Lower humidity, indoor heating, wind-exposure and quicker eye dryness can all conspire against the comfort of your lenses. Our contact lens exams, fittings and other services strive to ensure you have the right lens fit and care strategy, and this winter-specific guide will help you keep your lenses comfortable, clean and reliable when the seasons change.
Why Cold Weather Can Affect Contact Lens Comfort
When the air gets colder and indoor heating kicks in, your eyes are exposed to fewer natural tears and more evaporative stress. Wind, dry air and forced-air heating systems all reduce humidity around your eyes and increase tear evaporation. This can cause your contact lenses to feel dry, gritty or uncomfortable more often. On top of that, outdoor transitions (like moving between warm indoor spaces and chilly outdoor air) could place extra strain on your ocular surface and lens adherence. Proper lens care, hydration and substrate choice become more important than ever.
At Eyes Harvest Hills, we perform full contact-lens evaluations, taking into account your eye shape, tear-film stability and lifestyle needs so we can select lenses that give clearer vision and better comfort. With the right lens and care routine, we help reduce seasonal irritation and help you continue lens wear throughout winter.
Winter Lens Care Best Practices
Winter wear emphasizes routine care and adjustments. Here’s how we advise our lens-wearing patients to stay comfortable:
- Use lens-friendly lubricating drops: A preservative-free rewetting drop helps maintain lens hydration and tear-film stability when you move between cold and warm environments.
- Choose lenses with higher moisture retention: Some contact-lens brands carry materials designed for lower moisture-environments. Ask us during your fitting which brands suit your needs best.
- Maintain lens hygiene: Cold weather can make indoor spaces more dust- and static-prone (think heating vents, blankets, artificial fireplaces). Regularly clean your lens case, replace storage solution, and avoid wearing lenses when you’re unwell or have eye irritation, all services included in our brand offerings.
- Monitor your environment: When possible, reduce exposure to hot indoor air, direct vents or fireplaces. Blink frequently, and incorporate 20-second breaks when working on screens or reading—this helps maintain tear stability and lens comfort.
- Have a let-up plan: If your eyes feel fatigued after being outdoors or in abrupt cold/heat transitions, remove your lenses, hydrate the ocular surface with drops, and switch to glasses for the evening. This helps your eyes recover and keeps wear comfortable.
When to Reach Out for Help
If you’re following a careful routine yet still experiencing discomfort, irritation, redness or fluctuating vision, it may be time to return to our clinic for a professional check. At Eyes Harvest Hills we offer dry eye therapy, specialized contact-lens fittings, and full eye-health exams to catch issues early. Cold-weather lens discomfort can sometimes hide underlying issues like reduced tear-film quality or lens-fit changes, and we’re equipped to help you adapt.
Some easy habits to implement to encourage comfort in your eyes include using preservative-free rewetting drops during the day and choosing lens materials or brands suited for dryness. This can help you adapt to the colder temperatures and have your lenses stay wearable for longer periods of time. Be sure also to keep your lens case and solutions clean, as indoor dryness can sometimes mean more airborne particles. Blink intentionally and take short vision breaks when working indoors for long hours or after returning from cold too. Refreshing the tear film in your eyes is vital to maintaining the lenses on them.
If you have done all of these things and are still feeling discomfort, it could be a good idea to schedule a check-up. Symptoms of a deeper problem could include if your lenses are inherently uncomfortable, vision fluctuates, or you experience redness or irritation.
Book With Us Today
Wearing contact lenses in cold weather doesn’t have to mean compromise. With the proper lens fit, attentive care and smart habits, you can maintain comfort, clarity and confidence all season long. At Eyes Harvest Hills, we’re here to support your lens journey and help you keep your vision performing, regardless of how cold the climate may be. Book your contact-lens exam with us today, and let us help you stay comfortable through winter and beyond.
