Christmas gifts for a skier with dry eyes

The most useful Christmas gifts for a skier with dry eyes cut the wind and glare on the mountain and the dry heat back at the lodge: well-fitting goggles or a spare lens, a neck gaiter, a goggle cleaning cloth, a small humidifier for the condo, and, if they already use eye drops, a bottle of Quell for an inside pocket. Check the egg and bird allergy caution first.

Why skiers’ eyes dry out

A ski day puts the eyes in nearly every condition that speeds evaporation from the tear film. The air is cold and dry, the chairlift ride is windy, and speed on the way down adds its own wind. Bright snow makes people squint. Then they head back to a heated lodge, a hot car and a condo with a fireplace. A gift that addresses one of those stages is a practical one. Our guide to ski trips, cold wind and dry eyes explains each stage; this one is about what to wrap.

Gifts for skiers who have everything

Serious skiers usually own the big items already. The gaps tend to be small things that wear out, get lost or get left at home:

• A spare goggle lens for flat light or bright sun, if their goggles take interchangeable lenses. Check the model before buying.
• A microfiber goggle bag or cleaning cloth, since wiping a lens with a glove scratches it and leaves them squinting through smudges.
• A thin balaclava or neck gaiter that can be pulled up to the goggle line, closing the gap where cold air sneaks in.
• Anti-fog wipes or spray made for goggle lenses, so they’re not tempted to push goggles up onto the helmet and ride with bare eyes.
• Hand warmers, which also help keep a small bottle in an inside pocket from getting too cold.

Gifts for skiers and snowboarders on a budget

Stocking-size gifts can still help. A lens cloth, a soft goggle case, a pack of hand warmers, a lip balm and a small zip pouch for an inside jacket pocket all fit in a stocking. A pouch that keeps eye drops, lip balm and a lift pass together is the kind of thing a skier uses every trip without thinking about it.

Gifts for after the lifts close

The lodge and the rental condo are where eyes often feel worst, because heated air and wood fires are dry. A compact travel humidifier for the bedroom, a cozy sleep mask for flights to the mountains, or an insulated water bottle all fit here. If they drive to the slopes, a note reminding them to point the car heater vents at their feet instead of their face costs nothing and helps.

Is Quell a good gift for a skier?

For a skier who already reaches for eye drops after a day on the hill, a bottle of Quell can be a thoughtful addition. It’s a preservative-free lubricating drop designed to reinforce the tear film’s oil layer to help reduce moisture loss. The label lists its Uses as For use as a protectant against further irritation or to relieve dryness of the eye, with directions to Apply 1 drop 3 times per day in each eye. It holds .33 fl oz (10 mL), small enough for a chest pocket.

Before you buy, check one thing. The label says: Caution should be used in those with egg or bird allergies — For use in the eyes only. Quell contains emu oil, so if you don’t know whether they have an egg or bird allergy, ask first. Also skip it as a surprise for someone who uses prescription eye drops or contact lenses, since the label doesn’t cover those situations and they should ask their eye doctor. Our page on egg or bird allergy and Quell explains the caution.

Cold and the storage label

Skiers spend hours below freezing, and Quell’s label says Store between 15° to 30°C (59° to 86°F). A bottle in an outer jacket pocket or a car parked at the base area from first chair to last can get colder than that range. Suggest an inside pocket close to the body, or leaving the bottle in the lodge locker and using it on breaks. The label also notes Product appears as a milky brown solution, so add a line on the card so the color doesn’t surprise them.

Ordering a skier’s gift

Quell ships from Brentwood, Tennessee, to addresses across the United States, including ski towns and vacation rentals, as long as the address can receive packages. You can ship straight to them or to yourself to wrap. Checkout has no gift wrap or gift message option. Shipping is $10.00, and 3 or more bottles ship free. We send tracking by email but don’t promise a delivery date, so order early in December. See shipping to a holiday address if they’ll be away, or order from the home page.

If they don’t want it, an unopened bottle can be refunded within 30 days of delivery without being sent back.

When a gift isn’t enough

Goggles and drops are for everyday comfort. Eye pain, vision changes, or an eye that stays irritated after a day in the sun on snow needs an eye doctor, not another gadget. The label’s guidance: Stop use and ask a doctor if you feel eye pain or changes in your vision, if irritation or redness continues, or if the condition worsens or persists for 72 hours.