That's it, we've turned back the clock and winter is officially upon us. The result? Fewer daylight hours, more hours of darkness, and falling temperatures.
Do these seasonal changes affect our eyes? The answer is yes.
The arrival of winter already impacts our bodies and mood (hello winter blues and dry skin!), but that's not to mention the harmful effects that changes in temperature and light can have on our eyes.
Time Change
When we switch from daylight saving time to standard time in the fall, we gain an hour of sleep. But, while it might seem like a godsend at first glance, this transition can significantly disrupt your sleep habits, which, in turn, can affect your eyes. Yes, there's a direct correlation between sleep quality and eye health.
So, despite that pleasant extra hour of sleep, this subtle shift in the circadian rhythm can impair our concentration and our intrinsic ability to focus our eyes and mind.
Decrease in Natural Light
Generally, eye strain is more common in winter because there's less natural light. The switch to standard time means fewer daylight hours and more hours of darkness. Needless to say, we see less clearly in the dark... To our dismay, it's dark by 5 p.m. (and even earlier depending on where you are in the country!), which requires more effort from your eyes to do their job, despite the addition of artificial light. It even seems that fluorescent lighting can increase eye strain, and that incandescent light could also cause problems.
