Nine Ways to Protect Your Eyes This Winter
February 12, 2025Winter in Alberta brings with it unique challenges for eye safety. While we bundle up in heavy coats, toques, and mitts, our eyes are often left unprotected. The combination of bright sunlight reflecting off snow, dry air, and cold winds can lead to discomfort, vision issues, and even long-term eye damage.
From managing dry eye to choosing the right safety eyewear, here are nine helpful tips to keep your eyes safe and healthy this winter.
1. Choose the Right Safety Eyewear
Regular sunglasses and ski goggles are not substitutes for safety eyewear approved under Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Regulations. While they offer UV protection and reduce glare, they do not protect against workplace hazards like impact from flying debris, molten metal, or chemical splashes.
If you work in cold weather conditions, ensure your winter safety eyewear meets Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Regulations for full protection.
2. Consider Prescription Safety Glasses Instead of Contacts
Contact lenses can exacerbate dryness by wicking moisture away from the eyes. If possible, switch to prescription safety glasses, which also make it easier to apply eye drops when needed. If you must wear contacts, keep them well-hydrated and remove them at night to allow them to rehydrate in a saline solution.
3. Manage Dry Eye
The cold air and indoor heating lower humidity levels, which can cause dry, itchy eyes. If you already suffer from dry eye, winter can make it worse. Artificial tears or a warm compress can provide temporary relief, but not all drops are the same. There are often many factors contributing to dry eye and different drops treat different causes.
If symptoms persist, book an appointment with your optometrist. Chronic dry eye can increase your risk of eye damage or infection, and optometrists can recommend the best treatment to alleviate your symptoms and prevent damage. In Alberta, eye exams to assess and treat dry eye are considered medically necessary and have coverage from Alberta Health.*
*Confirm with your optometrist’s office that the appointment has coverage when booking.
4. Prevent Fogging on Glasses
Winter temperature changes can cause the lenses on your glasses and other eyewear to fog up when moving between indoors and outdoors, creating a safety hazard.
To reduce fogging on your prescription safety eyewear:
- Keep your lenses clean.
- Use anti-fog coatings on lenses.*
- Use anti-fog spray, anti-fog gels, or anti-fog wipes.
- Allow your eyewear to warm up gradually instead of wiping them immediately when fogged.
Inspect your eyewear regularly for cracks, scratches, or signs of structural weakness. If in doubt, replace it to ensure your protection is not compromised.
*In accordance with CSA Z94.3 – 2015, manufacturer built-in anti-fog coatings are not approved in Alberta. However, Eyesafe™ has special approval to provide this coating, as we have tested it to meet impact standards.
5. Protect Against Winter UV Exposure
UV rays remain a threat in winter, as they reflect off snow and ice. Even on cloudy days, UV exposure can be significant. High elevations increase UV intensity, leading to conditions like photokeratitis, a painful sunburn of the eyes sometimes called snow blindness.
Wear UV-protective sunglasses or safety eyewear when needed to shield your eyes.
6. Be Mindful of Winter Lighting and Glare
With shorter days and a lower sun angle, glare can be a major problem, especially when driving. To improve visibility, keep your vehicle’s windows clean inside and out to maintain clear vision. Discuss lens tints with your employer and optometrist to help filter out extra light.
7. Inspect and Properly Store Safety Eyewear
Extreme temperature changes can cause damage to your safety eyewear. Cold weather can make acetate frames brittle and more prone to snapping under pressure. Lenses can also crack, and certain lens coatings may develop small cracks, known as crazing, when exposed to sudden temperature shifts. To extend the lifespan of your eyewear always store them away from the elements in their case when not in use and avoid exposing them to extreme temperature changes. Make sure to inspect your eyewear daily to check for regular wear and tear and replace as needed.
8. Maintain Good Eye Hygiene
Winter increases the spread of conjunctivitis (pinkeye), a contagious bacterial or viral infection. Reduce your risk by washing your hands frequently and avoiding eye rubbing.
If symptoms arise, seek prompt medical attention. Optometrists can diagnose, treat, and prescribe medications for eye infections, and often leave room in their schedule for same-day appointments. Medically necessary eye exams also have coverage available from Alberta Health.*
*Confirm with your optometrist’s office that the appointment has coverage when booking.
9. Get an Annual Eye Exam
Many eye diseases develop without noticeable early symptoms. Regular checkups with your optometrist can detect problems before they become serious. An annual eye exam ensures your vision remains sharp and your eyes stay healthy throughout the winter.
Prioritize Eye Safety This Winter
Winter brings unique eye hazards, but with the right precautions, you can protect your vision. From choosing the correct safety eyewear to managing dry eye and UV exposure, proactive eye care helps prevent injury and discomfort. By addressing seasonal risks, we can ensure safe and healthy vision all year round.
Modern safety eyewear comes with many options for lenses and lens coatings. Learn more about various options of specialty lenses and lens coatings available through Eyesafe™.