With colder temperatures looming and the holiday season approaching, many Coloradans and tourists are preparing to hit the mountain slopes for skiing and snowboarding. Last season alone, there were an estimated 13.8 million skier visits in Colorado, according to Colorado Ski Country USA.
But with the thrill of these sports comes a risk for eye irritation, warns ophthalmologist Garrett “Conner” Nix, MD, an assistant professor in the University of Colorado Anschutz Department of Ophthalmology who recently completed his residency training at the Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center.
“When you ski or snowboard, you’re going to higher elevations where you’ll likely encounter drier air, snow, and higher wind speeds,” says Nix, an ophthalmologist at Denver Health. “There is a clear association between skiing and snowboarding and the risk of experiencing conditions like dry eye.”
We recently spoke with Nix, a skier himself, about the main issues to look out for this ski season and the steps people can take to best protect their eyes.
The following interview has been edited and condensed.