How to Protect Your Eyes In Winter

All Minnesotans know that winter can put the body under stress, but have you ever thought about winter’s effects on your eyes?


Eyes can be easily irritated by the fluctuation between brutally cold winter winds outside and the dry heat indoors. These irritations can be broken down into four conditions that are experienced during the winter season:

1. Runny, Wet Eyes

When your eyes attempt to compensate for the dry winds and heat, often they overcompensate and you get watery eyes that produce excessive tears.

To combat this, wearing sunglasses outdoors can protect your eyes from the wind. In addition, be aware of how you are wiping tears from your eyes. You may be irritating your eyes more if you are wiping them with unclean hands or rubbing your eyes vigorously.

2. Dry Eyes

On the opposite end of the spectrum, if your eyes do not produce enough tears, they are dried out by the winds and dry air.

What can you do to help? Here are a few options:

• Give Dr. Tom a ring to chat about the use of prescription eye drops
• Sunglasses will once again help your eyes fight the dryness
• Buy a humidifier for your home or office to add moisture to the air that typically dries out your eyes
• Take Omega-3 supplements to increase tear production
• Drink plenty of water
• Track your medications as some may restrict your ability to create tears. These include antihistamines, sleeping pills, pain relievers, and others.

3. Swollen Eyes

Red, swollen eyes can be caused by compression of the blood vessels in tissues around the eyes. This condition can cause overproduction of tears, blurry vision, and eyelid spasms.

Sunglasses can once again reduce this issue. The UV light reflected on the snow can increase inflammation of the cornea; sunglasses will reduce the UV light’s effects.

4. Burning Eyes

Not only can the cornea become inflamed by winter winds; it can also freeze. Do not force your eyes to open in the wind or cold as these conditions can have damaging effects to your cornea.

If you are experiencing this condition, please call Dr. Tom. He can help find a solution to your eye pain and burning. A temporary fix in the meantime is once again to put on those sunglasses. They will protect your eyes from some of these wind chill effects.

You may have noticed a trend in this article – sunglasses aren’t just for the summer! If you were planning on waiting to get a new pair prescription sunglasses, you might want to rethink that decision. We have many stylish options available at Infinite Eye Care.

Whatever your eye troubles, give Dr. Tom and our team at Infinite Eye Care a call. We can set you up so you’re not suffering through the winter season.

Finding the Perfect Fit for Your Frames

At Infinite Eye Care, we want you to be completely comfortable with your glasses. We stay up-to-date with the latest trends in eyewear and lenses to keep you looking your best. The problem is, sometimes even the best-looking frames don’t fit the best.

When your glasses are fitting properly, they will feel more comfortable, look more put-together, and ensure proper correction to your vision.

The fit of a pair of glasses is determined by four key elements:

The Frame

The width and style of the material surrounding the lenses. The frame should be level with your eyes and extend a proper length across your face.

The Temples

The extension that runs from the frame and sits on your ears to position your glasses. These must be to a specific length so that the curve does not sit too far in front of or behind your ears.

The Bridge

The portion of the frame that rests on your nose to position the placement of the lenses. The basics of determining if your bridge fits is to see how it is resting on your nose. If the bridge span is too small, your glasses will be placed too high which disrupts your pupil position. If the bridge span is too large, your glasses will continually fall down throughout the day or be positioned too low. It is crucial that despite the style of the glasses, your bridge is fitting properly so that it is nearly level with the center of your eyes.

Pupil Position

Where the pupil of your eye is in relation to your lenses. Your pupil should be near the center of your lenses to ensure that your glasses are properly correcting your vision. If your glasses are not positioned correctly, they may not actually be doing their job!

Assessing these four elements will enhance the look and feel of your glasses while improving the quality of your vision.

If you’re looking for the perfect pair of glasses or sunglasses, come into Infinite Eye Care in downtown Sauk Rapids.  

Protect Your Eyes from the Summer Sun

Under the blazing sun of the hottest months of summer, you protect your skin from sunburn with hats, the shade of a tree, or generous amounts of sunscreen, but do you take measures to protect your eyes? Just like your skin, it is much easier to take care of your eyes now, to prevent future damage later on. We may not always think exposure to the sun can make a huge difference on our eyes, but in the long run, small preparations go a long way.

The sun is full of harmful UV rays and extended exposure to these rays has been linked to eye damage including, cataracts, macular degeneration, pingueculae and pterygia (also known as surfer’s eye) and photokeratitis, which can cause temporary vision loss. Depending on the type, UV rays can affect your eyesight in different ways. There are two types of UV rays; UVA and UVB. UVA rays can hurt your central vision. It has a lower energy and is penetrated deep into the eye, which may injure the macula. UVB rays can do damage to your cornea and lens; these types of rays are considered to be more dangerous to your vision.

The simplest way to protect your eyes from the sun is to wear sunglasses. When choosing a pair of sunglasses, don’t base your choice off looks. Make sure you are picking a pair that blocks UV rays and protects your vision, not just your style. Sunglasses with a wraparound frame will give you the most protection.

Swimming in the summer is a great past time, especially in the land of ten thousand lakes. We have to make sure to protect our eyes from the harmful effects of swimming pools and natural bodies of water. Swimming pools contain chlorine which can create that burning sensation when you open your eyes under water. Too much of this can irritate your eyes causing redness, itchiness, and inflammation. Natural bodies of water contain different bacterias and debris that can get in your eyes and make you at risk of several irritants and eye diseases. Also, remember that wearing contacts does not mean you are protected. Contacts can trap the different bacterias and extra chlorine in the water and can cause more damage to your eyes.

However, don’t feel like you can’t enjoy swimming during the summer. Goggles are a simple way to stay protected. You might actually enjoy swimming more since you won’t have that constant itchy and irritated feeling!

Enjoy your summer out in the sun, but don’t forget to protect your eyes! If you have any questions about eye health, stop into Infinite Eye Care or check out our website. We would be happy to assist you in any way possible!

Healthy Vision and Ultraviolet Awareness Month

May was Healthy Vision and Ultraviolet (UV) Awareness Month, and with the sunny summer months ahead of us, we want to continue to discuss how UV rays can be harmful and how to protect yourself from some of its negative impacts. Most people associate the negative effects of UV rays with sunburn and skin cancer, but are not as aware of the negative affect they have on your eyesight or the kinds of eye problems they can cause.

There are several different eye problems that can arise from UV rays including Macular Degeneration, Cataracts, Pteryglum, Skin Cancer, and Corneal Sunburn. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the World Health Organization says that UV radiation from the sun and from tanning beds poses a threat to healthy eyesight. How you ask? Depending on the types of UV rays, they can affect your eyesight in different ways. There are two types of UV rays- UV-A and UV-B. UV-A rays can hurt your central vision. It has a lower energy and is penetrated deep into the eye, which may injure the macula. UV-B rays can do damage to your cornea and lens; these types of rays are considered to be more dangerous.

It is difficult to constantly keep your eyes protected from the sun, but some of the most effective ways are to know the dangers of UV rays and to stay informed about your eye health. If you do not take the time to stay informed and just ignore the health of your eyes, it will come back to haunt you later on in life.

It is also important to carry a pair of sunglasses or a hat as often as possible. Sunglasses are a great way to protect your eyes, however, be careful about the kind you choose. Some sunglasses are designed with fashion in mind and have no UV protection. While one pair of glasses may be trendier, just remember that long after that trend it out of fashion, you will still need your eyesight.

Lastly, wear a wide-brimmed hat or cap because it can actually block about half of the UV rays that may hit your eyes. Hats are a helpful alternative if you do not have a pair of sunglasses handy, though the combination of the two is the most effective way to protect your eyes.

The sun may not seem to be causing harm every day, but each time you leave yourself unprotected, you put yourself at risk of exposure to harmful UV rays. Even though May is UV Awareness Month, be sure to keep your eyes protected all year round.

Be sure to protect your eyes with sunglasses from Infinite Eye Care.