Winter heating and dry eyes

Cold air holds little moisture to begin with, and heating it makes the air in a room feel drier still. So eyes that were fine in October can start feeling dry or scratchy by December, without anything else changing.

Where it’s worst

Close to the source. Sitting right by a forced-air vent, a space heater or a fireplace puts warm, dry air straight onto your face. So does the car heater on full, aimed at the driver’s seat.

Small changes that help the room

• Point vents and car heater outlets away from your face.
• Move a favorite chair a few feet away from the heater.
• Run a humidifier in the room you spend most time in, and clean it as the maker says.
• Turn the thermostat down a little at night.

Where Quell comes in

The label’s Uses read: For use as a protectant against further irritation or to relieve dryness of the eye. Quell is designed to reinforce the oil layer of the tear film to help reduce moisture loss, which is the layer that slows evaporation when the air is dry. The tear film’s oil layer explains it.

Keep the bottle away from the heat too

The same radiator that dries the air can warm a bottle past the top of the label’s range, Store between 15° to 30°C (59° to 86°F). Keep it in a drawer, not on a radiator shelf or the mantel.

If it doesn’t settle

Dry air is a common reason for eyes to feel uncomfortable, not the only one. The label says when to stop and see a doctor: 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.