When the temperature is bitter and the air is crisp, you may feel like your eyelids blinking rarely bring the tears you expect. As winter progresses into early spring, you may feel like you never stop scratching your eyes. Without relief, dry, itchy eyes can affect your life and your mood. There may be more to your dry eyes than just weather, pollen, and mountain air. In this article, we will discuss common causes of dry eyes, how to prevent or treat those causes, and how to determine when it is time to see an optometrist.

• Sunscreen ✓
• Cold Drinks ✓
• Frisbees and volleyballs ✓
• Burgers and dogs for the BBQ ✓
• A trashy novel to read at the beach ✓

You’re almost ready for a day of fun in the sun. Just don’t forget your sunglasses!

They say that the eyes are the window to the soul. When you live near Asheville, those windows let in plenty of pollen. Adding dust, molds, and pet dander to the mix can make for a long spring… and summer… and fall.

While the region offers endless beauty and stunning scenery, nature can take a toll on our eyes. Our fair state can seem unfair if you’re prone to allergies and sensitive to irritants! In fact, North Carolina is one of the “worst” states when it comes to allergies — and staring at screens for work and entertainment only stresses our eyes more.

How do our eyes respond to these attacks — and what can you do if common allergens and irritants cause more than common discomfort and trouble?

You’re busy! There is always something on your to-do list: work, meetings to attend, football games and school plays to watch, children to cheer on, dinner to make, bills to pay, family to visit… the list goes on and on! But have you been too busy to schedule an eye exam?

How often do you need to have your vision checked, and should you clear some space on your schedule soon for this important appointment?