There are many environmental factors during the season that can impact your eyes. Here are some common eye problems that occur during fall, and what you can do about them.
Seven Common Eye Problems During Autumn
These are common eye problems you might experience during the fall in western North Carolina:
1) Sun and U/V Light
Many people have no problem wearing their sunglasses year-round. Others may be ready to take them off at the first hint of a chill in the air. However, the sun is still bright, and U/V light can still damage your eyes.
If you are spending time outdoors, it is still important to guard your eyes against bright sunshine.
2) Weeds and Fall Allergies
Although we think of allergies as a problem during the spring, summer and fall bring their own share of allergy-inducing weeds like grass and ragweed. Pollen from these plants can irritate your eyes, leading to redness, dry eyes, and in some cases, blurred vision.
If you wear contacts, fall allergies can be especially frustrating.
3) Autumn Yard Work and Sports Injuries
We often associate late summer and fall with a variety of sports. It is also a season to do some much-needed yard work, rake leaves, and prepare your garden for winter. However, these activities can cause eye injuries.
- Playing football, baseball, and soccer can put your eyes in the bright sun for hours at a time.
- Outdoor sports can also make you susceptible to eye injuries from rogue soccer balls, baseballs, softballs, and footballs. These can do major damage to your eyes.
- Mountain biking is one of the most popular and fun fall activities in the Asheville area. However, flying through the woods on two wheels makes your eyes susceptible to dirt, bugs, and other debris.
- Raking leaves and doing yard work put your eyes in the line of fire for pollen, dust, dirt, limbs, and other injury-inducing objects.
- Fall is campfire season. As pleasant as it is to roast marshmallows by a roaring fire, your eyes can be greatly irritated by smoke and susceptible to flying embers.
One of the best steps you can take to guard against fall eye injuries is to wear eye protection.
4) Fading Light (Aggravates Astigmatism)
The sun will set sooner and sooner each day until the Winter Solstice. If you have astigmatism that causes blurry vision, it will be aggravated by early nightfall. It is important to be prepared for twilight to come earlier if you are driving during Autumn.
5) Early Season Snow
Snow can arrive as early as mid to late October, especially in the higher elevations of Madison, Buncombe, and Haywood Counties.
When sunlight hits fallen snow, it can be bright enough to aggravate your eyes. Believe it or not, when there’s snow on the ground, you need to grab your sunglasses.
6) Fall Diseases, Viruses, and Dreaded Pink Eye
Fall and winter are the seasons for sickness to spread. While getting the cold or the flu can aggravate your eyes similarly to allergies, other eye infections can be associated with these conditions as well and may require treatment from an eye professional.
7) Dry Air Leads to Dry Eyes
Everyone is looking forward to a break in the humidity; however, dry air can contribute to dry eyes. Don’t just start dropping eye drops in your eyes. Ask your eye care professional about how to treat your dry eyes.
Get Fall Eye Help from Your Trusted Eye Care Professionals at Asheville Vision and Wellness
At Asheville Vision and Wellness, we help patients care for their eyes holistically. Eye care is not just about correcting vision with glasses or contacts; your eyes are impacted by everything you do.
Proper diet and exercise, practicing eye safety, and the right eye care steps will help you preserve your vision and protect your eyes. If you want more information about how to care for your eyes this fall, reach out to the team at Asheville Vision and Wellness.
We have been western North Carolina’s trusted eye care professionals for over thirty years.