# Better eyesight in cold weather? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 17, 2008, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-eyesight-in-cold-weather/433855 "2008-01-17T13:57:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BrandonR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@BrandonR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandonR)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2008, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-eyesight-in-cold-weather/433855/1 "2008-01-17T13:57:27Z")
I wear contacts (nearsighted) and I’ve noticed that whenever the weather outside is particularly cold, I can see distant objects significantly better. Normally I can see distant objects fine but they will often appear a bit blurry or hazy when far away, however, for whatever reason, when it’s cold the same distant objects appear abnormally crystal clear. Why? The change is not minor and I notice it on my own (by noticing how clear distant objects are, not by saying “oh it’s cold out, can I see further better?”). Is there some temperature-related focal length contraction phenomenon going on? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2008, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-eyesight-in-cold-weather/433855/2 "2008-01-17T13:59:40Z")
A more likely explanation (to my mind) is that cold air has very little moisture in it, that is, it is very dry. Without microscopic water droplets obscuring the view, distant objects are much, much clearer. ---
**Author:** ![BrandonR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@BrandonR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandonR)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2008, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-eyesight-in-cold-weather/433855/3 "2008-01-17T14:25:30Z")
Hmm I may just have to test that theory by looking outside a window and then going outside and seeing if there’s any visual change. ---
**Author:** ![Pasta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@Pasta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pasta)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2008, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-eyesight-in-cold-weather/433855/4 "2008-01-17T17:48:14Z")
I agree with **Broomstick** here – moisture in the air. You could test this by looking at something small and nearby (text a few meters away) rather than something large and far away (city skyline, stars). If it’s moisture in the air, the visual difference with temperature should be much reduced at close distances. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2008, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-eyesight-in-cold-weather/433855/5 "2008-01-17T18:59:26Z")
It’s not just moisture, it’s all air pollution that lessens in colder temperatures. Nothing to do with your eyes. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2008, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-eyesight-in-cold-weather/433855/6 "2008-01-17T20:12:57Z")
In my case, it’s becuase the cold wind makes my eyes water, which in turn makes my lenses refreshed and clearer. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-eyesight-in-cold-weather/433855/8 "2013-07-17T17:31:48Z")
Reported.