When winter arrives in Edmonton many contact lens wearers can begin to notice their lenses feel drier, scratchier, or simply less comfortable. At Dr. Sam Dhaliwal & Associates, we treat dry eye and contact-lens intolerance year-round, and can often see the same winter patterns every season. Cold outdoor air, heated indoor environments, and longer screen time all combine to upset the tear film your contacts rely on to stay comfortable. We know that there are reliable steps you can take to sustain this, as well as proven treatments we offer to keep your eyes functional and reliable.
What winter does to your eyes (briefly and clearly)
Dry eye disease can happen when your eyes don’t produce enough tears or your tears evaporate too quickly. Environmental factors, including indoor heating, low humidity and dry climates, are contributors on our dry-eye page. Symptoms can include irritation, a gritty feeling, blurred vision, excessive tearing (as your eyes try to compensate), and even an inability to wear conventional contact lenses comfortably. If you’re experiencing any of these, it’s a good sign to get checked.
Why many contact lens problems can actually be dry-eye problems
A common scenario that can be seen is a patient who assumes the contact lenses themselves are the problem when, in fact, the underlying issue is meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) or blepharitis. MGD is where the oil glands in the eyelids are blocked or underperforming, and is one of the leading causes of evaporative dry eye. We can use meibomian gland imaging (LipiScan) to diagnose this reliably, then select the best treatment path and way forward.
Practical steps you can take today
Before you change lenses or give up on daily wear, it might be worth trying to implement some simple habits. Keep indoor humidity reasonable and use preservative-free lubricating drops approved for use with contact lenses as needed (you could even ask us which brands we recommend). This can help keep your eyes fresh and watery. Avoiding long uninterrupted screen sessions can help this too, and even just blinking often during these can help maintain a healthy tear film. One of the most important ones however, is to follow your lens-care and replacement schedule exactly, as over-wearing increases irritation and risk.
It is the small changes that can often make a big difference, but if your eyes are still struggling, we offer in-clinic options that target the root cause.
Clinic treatments that restore comfort (what we offer)
We provide a full dry-eye program that moves beyond drops to address the glands and lids themselves. Here are a few:
- LipiFlow®: A comfortable, in-office 12-minute procedure that applies gentle heat and pressure to clear blocked meibomian glands and restore oil flow. It’s especially effective for MGD, the most common reason contact comfort fails.
- BlephEx® / Zest lid cleansing: This is for blepharitis and lid microbial biofilm removal, which can often be an important preparatory step before advanced therapies.
Each of these options is described on our site and is selected based on your exam and imaging results. We often combine therapies for the best, longest-lasting outcome.
Specialty contact lenses when conditions needs extra help
For patients whose eyes are severely dry or irregular, scleral contact lenses can be transformative. They vault over the cornea and hold a reservoir of fluid against the eye, providing immediate comfort and stable vision even in harsh conditions. We design and fit custom scleral lenses using advanced scanners and our on-site technology so the lenses match your eye precisely.
We also carry a broad selection of daily and specialty lenses and are one of the larger contact-lens clinics in Edmonton, so whether you need a new daily disposable or a complex custom lens, we can help.
Ready for a winter check-up?
If your contacts are giving you trouble this winter, don’t wait for symptoms to worsen. We recommend a targeted dry-eye assessment so we can tailor treatment. Whether it is simple home care, LipiFlow, BlephEx, or custom scleral lenses we can help you get what your eyes may actually need.
Contact us today to book a consultation with us online or call us at our Westmount location; we also offer direct billing for many insurers. Let your eye health journey begin today.