Sometimes the eyes water in the cold. There are several reasons for this phenomenon, some of them are quite serious. In some cases, it makes sense to see a doctor.
Common Causes
Cold conjunctivitis often occurs with a strong wind in the cold. It can be recognized by its characteristic redness in the eye area, itching and increased lacrimation. You can alleviate the discomfort by dripping antihistamine drops into your nose and eyes before going out into the cold. Before going to bed, it is advisable to make a compress from ordinary freshly brewed black or green tea bags. The compress should be at about room temperature.
Sun allergies can cause watery eyes and sore eyes. The cornea and retina react in this way to excess ultraviolet radiation. In winter, the eyes are more susceptible to the negative effects of ultraviolet rays, since the sun is located quite low above the horizon, besides, the reflectivity of ice and snow greatly enhances the unpleasant effect. Sun allergies are more common in light-eyed people because blue or gray irises contain less pigment that protects against UV exposure. In this case, it is advisable to use dark glasses, however, it is better to choose smoky glasses, and not completely black.
Age, pathology and other problems
In some cases, the sensitivity of the cornea to wind, frost and other influences can be explained by congenital pathology. In this case, it is also advisable to use sunglasses and instill vasoconstrictor drops in the nose, which make breathing more free.
Quite often, in old age, the lumen of the nasolacrimal canal decreases slightly, the tone of the eyelids decreases, and they lose contact with the cornea. As a result, the eyes do not react well to exposure to cold air and begin to water. It is best to do exercises to strengthen the muscles of the eyelids. It is enough to blink several times a day, closing the eyelids with effort.
Dry eye syndrome can cause lacrimation in the cold. This syndrome occurs when there is a significant lack of tear fluid. The air overdried by central heating in the premises, the high concentration of automobile gases, characteristic of winter, make the eyes often dry out. In this case, drugs such as "artificial tears" are excellent.
Problems with the conduction of the lacrimal canal can cause lacrimation in the cold. Only specialist doctors can identify such problems. The ophthalmologist must do a diagnostic lavage of the canal; if the diagnosis is confirmed, physiotherapy or even surgery may be required.
In some cases, watery eyes can be caused by hypovitaminosis. Most often in winter, the body does not have enough vitamin B2, in some cases a lack of potassium manifests itself in a similar way. It is enough to revise your diet and supplement it with appropriate vitamin and mineral complexes.
