Eyes okay outdoors (even in brisk wind) not good indoors or in auto

[Warren]

Does anyone else here observe this phenomenon with their dry eye symptoms?

When I am outdoors (rural New York) my eyes feel fine, even if there is quite a brisk wind. The temperature when this occurs has been between 40-75 Fahrenheit. But when I am indoors or in an automobile my dry eye symptoms (burning, something in the eye feeling, and grittiness) return.

Do others observe this? My sense is that the wind should make my eyes even worse, but it doesn't. In fact, the cool fresh air feels good on my eyes. Can anybody here shed any light on this. I'm thinking that an explanation of this may have something to do with the real reason behind my "dry eyes". Thank you.

[LaDiva]

Yes Warren, I have noticed exactly the same thing and wondered why. I walk every morning, and feel pretty good outside. I am in suburban CA.

[magoo]

I have the same thing. I thought too, that it would give me a clue to the cause of my eye problems but so far I have not figured it out. Wind does not bother my eyes either. I am not allergic to anything in my house. It is a mystery.

[Colin P]

I have noticed this recently, and have deduced that the above 3 forum users maybe have 'moderate' dry eye levels. Severe dry eye sufferers and you will struggle both indoors and out. I used to struggle with both indoors and outdoors this time last year; but am now ok outdoors, but indoors, forced heat is still aggrivating my eyes.
Dont worry about symptoms getting worse, because your dry eye levels could get better, worse or pretty much stay the same?.
Cast your mind back, and 'healthy eyes' would tear in a brisk wind anyway, the wind dries anybody out, so the brain tells the eys to tear-up in responce.
Maybe you are still producing some tears, just not quite enough though.

[Warren]

Thank you all for responding. When I said brisk wind I didn't mean wind that blows your hat off your head or inverts your umbrella, but a wind stronger than forced air in most homes and public buildings. So, Colin, I may have mislead you, I wasn't talking about a wind that would force my eyes to tear up.

The thing is, after I go outdoors and then come back in, my eyes feel pretty close to normal for 30 minutes to 1 hour before the grittiness returns. I can't help but feel this is telling me something, but I'm unable to draw any reasonable conclusions yet.

Thanks again for your responses! Best wishes to you all.

[lulu]

Generally outside air is naturally humid, with at least some degree of moisture in it. I have a weather station in my garden (sad but true!) and most days the humidity is over 50%, even on hotter days. Okay I do live in the UK, but the east coast is actually quite dry. This is why a humidifier can make your eyes slightly more comfortable as it aims to get the humidity up. I must admit I do experience grittiness even with the humidifier but I dare not go without it and my eyes are apparently in the severe catergory these days. I have a little trick, when driving I place a plastice container of water in the passenger seat foot well and have the heater on low. I drill out loads of holes in a lid and I fancy that it does take the edge of it!
I have started placing soaked cotton wool pads in my tranquileye goggles which I have never really taken to but decided to keep on going with them. I sleep with this humid enviroment over my eyes but not touching them and I am wondering if in the long run this will help too. Try humidifying and see if it gives you longer relief.
Good luck now.
Lulu