Air conditioning and vision

28/06/2017

Could air conditioning be bad for my eyes?

Air conditioning removes humidity from the air; dry and cold air causes eye irritation and may make the mucous membranes dry up and develop dry eye syndrome.

Dry eye syndrome is one of the most frequent eye disorders with symptoms that are worsened by air conditioning, fans, excessive use of heaters, places filled with smoke, streams of air and environmental pollution. These external influences dry the eye surface, thereby increasing the number of people who suffer discomfort through the sensation of grit or a foreign body in the eye, a burning sensation, tiredness, blurred vision and mucous secretion, particularly among contact lens wearers and those who are more prone to suffering from this illness.

It is important to stay away from the focal point of the air stream of both fans and air conditioning units.

Take care in areas where you spend a lot of time like at home, in the office and the car. Increasing humidity by using humidifiers is recommended, and if you want to alleviate symptoms of dry eye syndrome, use preservative free artificial tear drops that reduce irritation, improve eyesight and mitigate sensitivity to light.

Dr. Mercedes Uxó

Ophthalmologist