Why your eyes water more in the cold and how to stop it

The bone-chilling forecast for much of the US is enough to bring tears to anyone’s eyes.Watery eyes are very common in the winter — especially for those with dry eyes.

That may sound weird, but cold, dry and windy air triggers the eyes to produce “reflex tears” to overcompensate for extreme dryness.And for those without dry eye disease, the wind and cold temperatures are still irritating enough to the cornea, the outermost lens of the peepers, to cause reflex tearing.It’s a frustrating effect of winter, right up there with dry, itchy skin, joint stiffness and cracking on the lips and heels.Before you grab another box of tissues, The Post spoke with three eye experts who shared several strategies for helping eyes prone to precipitating in the cold — and simple ways to protect your baby blues when temperatures turn icy.Most adults blink 15 to 20 times per minute — but that may not be enough, especially if you work a lot on the computer.“Blinking more frequently and completely can improve tearing in cold weather because the eyelids act like windshield wipers to spread the tear film across the ocular surface,” Dr.Sarah Weissbart, a cornea specialist at Stony Brook Medicine, told The Post.“Many people do not blink enough in general, and this issue can result in excessive tearing in cold weather conditions.”Weissbart emphasized the importance of increasing blinking frequency while using screens to prevent dry, irritated and tired eyes.Dr.

Brian Boxer Wachler, a Beverly Hills eye surgeon, advises the 20/20 rule when typing on your computer or using your phone indoors.“Every 20 minutes, close your eyes for 20 seconds so your inner eyelids rehydrate your eyes,” said Boxer Wachler, director of the Boxer Wachler Vision Institute.Beyond blinking, you may want to try hydrating your body with water and your eyes with artificial tears, which are lubricating eye drops designed to mimic natural tears.“I recommend using over-the-counter preservative-free...