How hot and cold weather affect contact lenses
Extreme weather can wreak havoc on your health — sunburn in the summer and flu in the winter, for instance. Hot and cold weather also can worsen the wearability of contact lenses, leading to discomfort or even infections.
You may even have wondered how extreme heat or cold affects that box of contact lenses left at your front door first thing in the morning that you discovered when you got home from work.
Follow this advice to ensure the weather doesn’t rain on your parade as a contact lens wearer.
Hot weather
Block the sun
Since we tend to spend more time outdoors in warmer months, it’s vital to make sure you’re not exposing your eyes to harmful UV rays. Therefore, you might consider wearing contact lenses with UV protection, particularly during the summer.
In addition, you should always wear polarized sunglasses when you’re outside, regardless of whether the thermometer shows 30 degrees or 0 degrees.
Stop the flow of sweat
In hot weather, especially when the heat is coupled with humidity, it takes no time at all to work up a sweat — even when you’re not exercising.
To avoid the sting of sweat in your eyes, consider wearing an absorbent headband or frequently wiping your brow with a towel.
Don’t fear intense heat
It’s a myth that contact lenses will melt in your eyes if the summer heat is bearing down on you or if you’re standing over a barbecue grill.
Plenty of contact lens wearers spend hours in hot conditions, and none of them experiences melted lenses. But make sure to wear sunglasses to prevent hurting your eyes.
Don’t make waves
Wearing your contacts while swimming can cause eye irritation and infection. (This advice also applies to swimming in the sea, taking a shower or soaking in a sauna.)
If you insist on keeping your contacts in while you’re swimming, slip on a pair of goggles before hitting the water.
Cold weather
Heed the low humidity
In the fall and winter, when humidity normally decreases, your eyes can become drier because your tears are more likely to evaporate.
Therefore, it’s important to stock up on contact lens-compatible eye drops or artificial tears. Plus, you should wear sunglasses or goggles when you’re outdoors to block eye-drying winds.
Drink up
We’re not suggesting a pint or a Bloody Mary. Instead, we’re recommending you drink plenty of water to keep your body — including your eyes — adequately hydrated.
Consuming more water creates more dryness-fighting tears.
Stay away from direct heat
Whether the heat originates from car vents, a radiator, a fireplace or a stove, it can dry out your eyes and lead to irritation.
To help ensure your eyes stay moist, steer clear of close contact with these heat sources and turn on a humidifier.
Don’t fear the freeze
Just as contact lenses can’t melt in your eyes, they also can’t freeze in your eyes.
Why? Because they’re kept warm by the temperature of your corneas and your tears.
Keep in mind, though, that you should wear eyeglasses or goggles in cold weather to stop harsh winds from drying out your eyes and to shield your eyes from UV rays.
Switch to glasses
In the worst-case scenario, if bad weather is contributing to ongoing eye problems, substitute your contact lenses for glasses until you can see your optician.
SEE RELATED: Travelling with your contact lenses? These 9 tips will help
Hot and cold weather
Care for your contacts
To promote eye health whether it’s sunny, cloudy, rainy or snowy, properly clean and store your contact lenses.
How do you do this? Follow the manufacturer’s recommended schedule for changing your contacts (daily, monthly and so forth).
Look into daily disposables
One of the best ways to avoid eye issues regardless of the weather is to inquire about a prescription for daily disposable contact lenses (if you’re not already using them).
A fresh, clean pair of daily contacts can reduce the likelihood of eye irritation or infection.
Give your eyes a rest
To minimize weather-related problems, take a break from contacts — a few hours before bedtime, for example — and wear your glasses instead.
Also, be sure to get enough sleep; this can ease eye dryness and fatigue.
Perhaps most importantly, don’t wear your contacts while you’re sleeping, since this can increase the risk of developing an eye infection.
Don’t worry about contacts left at your door
You’ve ordered contact lenses online. Two days later, they’re delivered to your house.
The box of contacts has been sitting at your front door for much of the day while you’ve been away at work, so it’s been exposed to the elements.
Should you be concerned about the condition of the contacts?
No. Research suggests contact lenses can withstand both hellish heat and antarctic-type cold.
NEED TO ORDER CONTACTS?: Find an optical store near you.
SEE RELATED: Contact lenses: A guide for first-time users
Page published on Thursday, 5 March 2020
