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If you go out on a cold day, you will quickly notice an unusual blinking sensation. "Cold air stores less water than warm air. That's why the eye dries out particularly quickly in the cool air," explains sports ophthalmologist Dr Dieter Schnell. In addition, the tear fluid in the eye is reduced because the body loses water and salts when sweating.
3 tips - How to protect your eyes in the cold
Drink regularly - even on cold days - improves the moisture balance of the eyes. Isotonic drinks with minerals are ideal, recommends the sports ophthalmologist. His tip for winter cyclists: apple spritzer with sodium-rich, non-carbonated mineral water. The cold temperatures also affect the metabolism of the eyes.
"Cooling down slows down important metabolic processes that provide energy for many visual functions," explains Dr Schnell. This inhibits the mobility of the eye and reduces visual performance.
Good sports glasses slow down both detrimental winter effects: Dryness and cooling. "Make sure you have adequate UV protection in winter too," advises the expert. This is because ice and snow reflect the sun's rays. If UV rays and glare come together, the risk of conjunctivitis or corneal inflammation increases. Glasses that minimise the incidence of light from the side and are still well ventilated to prevent the lenses from fogging up are considered ideal.
Health lexicon: Tear film
The tear film protects the eye from foreign bodies and supplies the cornea with oxygen, nutrients and moisture. It consists of three layers: Oily layer, aqueous layer and mucous layer. The aqueous layer makes up the majority of the tear fluid and is formed by the lacrimal glands. It contains proteins, nutrients, enzymes and antibodies that protect the eye from infections.
