Winter Wellness for Your Eyes (and Your Stomach)
“Winter Wellness for Your Eyes (and Your Stomach)”

Winter wellness for your eyes - and your kitchen

Prioritising your eye health during the winter months is essential for maintaining clear vision and comfort year-round. Whether you're enjoying outdoor activities or staying cosy indoors, take proactive steps to protect your eyes from potential hazards and minimise discomfort.

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Winter eye care illustration

While temperatures drop during winter, it's important to remember that UV radiation still poses a risk to your eye health. Even on overcast days, 90% of UV rays can penetrate clouds and reach your eyes.* Additionally, as the sun sits lower on the horizon during the winter months, we are actually more susceptible to those damaging rays.

To safeguard your vision, consider wearing sunglasses with UV protection whenever you're outdoors, regardless of the weather. Talk to the team at Lifestyle Optical — we can help you find sunglasses that block 100% of UVA and UVB rays to ensure maximum protection for your eyes.

UV protection graphic

As winter brings opportunities for thrilling outdoor activities like skiing and snowboarding, it's crucial to prioritise eye safety. These sports can expose your eyes to various hazards, specifically photokeratitis — also known as ‘snow blindness’. This is a painful condition caused by the exposure of unprotected eyes to sunlight reflected from the snow. Snow is able to reflect up to 85% of UV radiation upwards and into our eyes.**

To protect your eyes in the snow, make sure you’re wearing appropriate eyewear designed for your chosen activity. Ski goggles will provide protection for the skin around the eyes and eyelashes, as well as the eyes themselves, guarding from debris, wind and snow.

Ski goggles and winter eyewear

For many, the cooler temperatures of winter can exacerbate dry eye symptoms, leading to discomfort and vision disturbances. Research states that wind is the most commonly reported weather condition to impact dry eyes in patients, with cold weather aggravating dry eye in 34% of individuals.***

To alleviate dry eye discomfort during the winter months, consider using artificial tears or lubricating eye drops to keep your eyes moist. Additionally, remember to blink regularly, especially when using digital devices or reading for extended periods.

If you experience persistent dry eye symptoms, consult with the team at Lifestyle Optical for personalised recommendations and treatment options.

Winter lifestyle image

🇮🇹 Minestrone della Mamma

A nourishing Italian classic from Optometrist Laura Reale

As the days grow cooler, there’s nothing more comforting than a bowl of soup made with love — and this one holds a special place in Laura’s heart. Handed down from her mum, this minestrone is packed with fresh veggies, warm flavours, and memories of family dinners around the table.

🛒 Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 finely chopped onions
  • 2 chopped carrots
  • 2 chopped celery stalks
  • 2 chopped zucchinis
  • 2 peeled and chopped potatoes
  • 90g fresh green beans, trimmed and chopped
  • 3 vegetable or chicken stock cubes
  • 4 cups warm water
  • 1 can chopped tomatoes
  • 1 × 300g can of mixed beans (drained)
  • ½ cup risoni pasta
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
  • 2 handfuls of baby spinach, washed
  • Optional: grated parmesan and fresh chopped parsley to serve

Minestrone della Mamma

👩🍳 Method

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan.
  2. Sauté the onions, carrots, celery, zucchini, and potatoes for 4–5 minutes until softened.
  3. Dissolve stock cubes in 4 cups of warm water and add to the pot with the tomatoes and seasoning.
  4. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
  5. Add the beans and risoni, and simmer for another 15 minutes.
  6. After 10 minutes, add the baby spinach and stir through.
  7. Cook until pasta is tender. Serve hot with parmesan and parsley if desired.

🌿 Buon appetito!

“It’s my mum’s favourite — and now it’s mine too.” — Laura Reale, Optometrist

Find Us

Lifestyle Optical
Westfield Sydney, 188 Pitt St, Sydney NSW 2000
· 📞 +61 02 9283 0900


* Even on cloudy days a large proportion of UV can reach the ground.
** Snow can reflect a very high percentage of UV, increasing risk of photokeratitis.
*** Cold, dry, windy conditions commonly aggravate dry eye symptoms.

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