If your eyes burn or feel gritty when Santa Ana winds arrive, the weather may be contributing to your discomfort. Dry, moving air can make tears evaporate faster, leaving the eye surface less protected. At Project Eyecare Optometry, we help patients in Mission Viejo understand their dry eye symptoms and explore treatment options, including scleral lenses when appropriate.

Why Santa Ana Winds Can Worsen Dry Eye

Santa Ana winds bring dry air into Southern California. Wind and low humidity can increase tear evaporation, especially if your tear film is already unstable. This can trigger symptoms or worsen existing dry eye.

Your tear film helps keep your eyes comfortable and your vision clear. When it breaks down too quickly, you may notice burning, redness, or blur that changes after blinking. Even watery eyes can be a sign of irritation, because the eyes sometimes produce extra tears in response to dryness.

Ways to Protect Your Eyes on Windy Days

A few adjustments can help reduce exposure and support eye comfort:

• Wear wraparound sunglasses outdoors to limit wind exposure.

• Keep car vents and indoor fans from blowing directly toward your face.

• Use a humidifier if the air inside your home is dry.

• Take screen breaks and blink fully to help spread tears across your eyes.

• Ask us whether preservative-free artificial tears are appropriate for your symptoms.

These steps may help with occasional irritation. If symptoms keep returning, an eye exam can identify whether tear evaporation, reduced tear production, eyelid problems, or another condition is contributing.

How Scleral Lenses Help With Dry Eye

Scleral lenses are larger, rigid gas-permeable contact lenses that rest over the white part of the eye and vault over the cornea. Before insertion, the lens bowl is filled with sterile, preservative-free saline recommended by your eye doctor.

This creates a fluid reservoir between the lens and the cornea, helping keep the corneal surface hydrated during wear. For selected patients with severe or persistent dry eye, scleral lenses can improve comfort and provide clearer vision when an unhealthy eye surface causes visual fluctuations.

Scleral lenses do not cure dry eye or correct every underlying cause. Other treatments may still be needed to manage inflammation or eyelid gland problems.

Finding the Right Fit for Your Eyes

At our Mission Viejo practice, we offer specialty contact lens care and evaluate whether scleral lenses are suitable for your eyes. Their fit must be customized, and follow-up visits help us check comfort, vision, and eye health.

Proper insertion, removal, cleaning, and disinfection are essential. Never use tap water to fill or rinse your lenses, and follow your prescribed wear schedule. If you develop eye pain, marked redness, or sudden vision changes, remove your lenses and seek immediate eye care.

Schedule your dry eye evaluation with Project Eyecare Optometry to find out whether scleral lenses could help you see and feel more comfortable. Visit our office in Mission Viejo, CA, or call (949) 799-3663 to book an appointment today.