The holiday season brings bright lights, festive gatherings, and more time spent connecting with loved ones. But it also brings changes to your routine that may leave your eyes feeling irritated, strained, or unusually tired.
Between long travel days, hours spent on digital devices, and the stress of a busy schedule, your eyes work overtime during the holidays. At a time meant for joy, these small habits can sneak up and affect your comfort and vision.
Drs. Sunil Thadani, Brian Chado, Elvis Salas, and the dedicated medical team at Maryland Vision Center break down three common holiday behaviors that can impact eye health, and how small adjustments can help keep your eyes happy all season long.
Between online shopping, sending holiday messages, streaming movies, and scrolling through social media, most people spend significantly more time on screens during the holiday season. Extended screen time reduces how often you blink, which can make the eyes feel dry, tired, or unfocused.
Digital eye strain can lead to:
To give your eyes a break, follow the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. Increasing blink frequency, lowering screen brightness, and keeping screens at arm’s length can also reduce discomfort.
Whether you're flying across the country or driving for hours, travel environments can be surprisingly harsh on your eyes. Airplane cabins are notoriously low in humidity, and blowing air vents in cars can dry out your tear film, the thin layer of moisture that keeps your eyes comfortable.
Dry air can cause:
To protect your eyes during travel:
Even simple changes can make long travel days more comfortable for your eyes.
The holidays often mean late nights, busy schedules, and disrupted sleep routines. When you’re tired, your eyes produce fewer high-quality tears, leading to dryness, blurred vision, and increased sensitivity.
Sleep loss can make your eyes feel:
Prioritizing rest is one of the easiest ways to support eye health. Aim for consistent sleep, limit caffeine late in the day, and try winding down with soft lighting instead of additional screen time.
Awareness is the first step in preventing holiday-related eye discomfort. By reducing screen time where possible, caring for your eyes during travel, and getting enough rest, you can enjoy the season without unnecessary irritation.
If your eyes feel persistently dry, strained, or uncomfortable, a comprehensive examination can help identify underlying causes and provide long-lasting relief.
To get expert guidance on keeping your eyes healthy this holiday season and beyond, schedule a visit with the Maryland Vision Center team in Frederick, MD, today.
