Dry eye relief in St. George, Utah

Dry eye relief in St. George means guarding against desert heat in summer and dry, sunny air the rest of the year. NOAA’s normals show about 63 days a year at 100°F or hotter and only 0.16 inches of rain in June. Hike early, wear wraparound sunglasses, keep air conditioning off your face, take screen breaks, and use a lubricating drop exactly as labeled. See an eye doctor for pain or vision changes.

St. George’s weather in NOAA’s records

St. George sits in Utah’s southwest corner, below the red cliffs and lava ridges that frame the Virgin River valley. NOAA’s 1991 to 2020 normals for its station, at about 871 meters or 2,860 feet, show a climate closer to Las Vegas than to Salt Lake City:

• 9.31 inches of precipitation in a normal year.
• Winter is the wet season: 3.46 inches from December through February, with February wettest at 1.38.
• June averages just 0.16 inches.
• About 1.2 inches of snow a year, and not a single normal day when the high stays at or below freezing.
• About 128 days a year at 90°F or warmer, including about 63 at 100°F or more.

Desert summers and early starts

July’s normal high is 101.9°F, and August averages 99.9°F. NOAA’s relative humidity table doesn’t list St. George, but its nearest listed station, Las Vegas, averages 10 percent humidity on June afternoons and 15 percent in July. Air that dry pulls water off the eye quickly, and the sun reflecting off red sandstone adds glare. That’s why trail runners in Snow Canyon State Park and hikers heading toward Zion tend to start at first light.

• Get out at dawn; afternoons are the hottest and driest part of the day.
• Wear sunglasses that wrap around, and a brimmed hat for the glare off rock and sand.
• Carry the drops in a pack pocket away from direct sun, not on the dashboard.
• In the shade, close your eyes gently for a minute and let them rest.

Water, wind and sand

Paddling or boating at Sand Hollow and Quail Creek reservoirs means bright water, steady breeze and, on the beach, blowing sand. Off-road trips in the dunes add dust thrown up by tires. Close-fitting sunglasses help on the water, goggles help in the dunes, and rinsing your hands before touching your eyes matters more than usual after a sandy day. Our guide to dry eyes on a boat covers the lake side.

Mild winters, cold mornings

St. George winters are gentle by day. January averages a high of 54.0°F, but the low is 28.4°F, and the station logs about 62 nights a year at or below freezing. Heaters run in the mornings and evenings, and warmed indoor air holds much less moisture than you might expect for the wettest season. The Las Vegas row in NOAA’s table shows December afternoons near 32 percent humidity, dry by most standards. A humidifier in the bedroom and a vent turned away from the bed can help.

Golf, pickleball and long days outside

Mild winters bring golfers, pickleball players and winter residents from colder states. Hours on an open course or court mean steady sun and breeze on the eyes even in January. Sunglasses help, and so does looking away from the bright ground between shots. For a round with dry eyes, dry eyes on the golf course has more.

Quell’s label

Quell is a lubricating drop designed to reinforce the tear film’s oil layer to help reduce moisture loss. According to its Drug Facts panel, the Uses are: For use as a protectant against further irritation or to relieve dryness of the eye. Directions: Apply 1 drop 3 times per day in each eye. Before trying it, note the caution: Caution should be used in those with egg or bird allergies — For use in the eyes only.

The label’s storage line is Store between 15° to 30°C (59° to 86°F). A summer car in St. George gets far hotter than that, so keep the bottle with you or at home. The full panel is on our Drug Facts page.

Ordering Quell in St. George

Quell ships from Brentwood, Tennessee, to St. George, Washington, Hurricane and across the US. Checkout is guest only; shipping is $10.00, and free on 3 or more bottles. Tracking comes by email, though we don’t promise a delivery date, and in summer it’s worth bringing a package inside soon after it arrives. Unopened bottles can be refunded within 30 days of delivery, with nothing to return. Local details are on the St. George page and the Utah page.

When to see an eye doctor

If dryness keeps returning, an eye doctor can work out the cause and what to do about it. The label sets the line: 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. Grit that stays put after a windy hike is worth a visit too.