Dry, itching or infected eyes? Blame the fall weather.

There’s a lot to love about fall: cooler temps, beautiful foliage, that cozy harvest time vibe. But if your eyes are feeling as itchy as the sweaters you’ll soon be wearing, you’re not alone. While it’s a reprieve from the summer heat, fall’s chillier weather can also contribute to dry, irritated eyes that you can’t stop rubbing. Add in allergies and kids coming home from school with pink eye and you’ve got a season rife with eye ailments.

Here’s what’s happening — and what eye experts say you can do to protect yours.

Fall weather is taking a toll

Autumn is typically a less humid season than summer because cooler air holds less moisture. Turning on the heat in your home on chillier days can further reduce indoor humidity. It’s not just your skin that feels the effects of this dryness: your eyes can suffer too, as this lack of humidity “causes our tears to evaporate faster, which can leave you feeling uncomfortable [and] irritated and can even blur your vision,” ophthalmologist Dr. Thierry Hufnagel tells Yahoo Life.

It’s not just the lack of humidity that’s a problem, ophthalmologist Dr. Diane Hilal-Campo adds. When temperatures shift, air pressure does too, which causes an increase in wind. “Windy weather can strip eyes of moisture and blow dirt and debris into the eye, which can irritate or even abrade the surface of the eye,” she tells Yahoo Life.

Hufnagel says that there are ways to treat dry eyes affected by the weather. “It can be really helpful to drink more water, use a humidifier and maybe try some artificial tears [aka eye drops] to keep your eyes nice and moist,” he explains.

Hilal-Campo also recommends wearing glasses or sunglasses, as well as hats and hooded jackets, which can “help shield your eyes from wind, dirt and debris.” If you do get something in your eye, you can flush it out with saline solution at home.

“Any discomfort should be alleviated over the next few hours,” she says. “If you cannot remove the foreign object from your eye or if your eye is still uncomfortable after several hours have passed, see an eye doctor for help.”

Seasonal allergies are acting up

Mold spores, dust mites and ragweed pollen can trigger itching, redness and discomfort, Hufnagel notes. He recommends staying inside when the pollen count is “off the charts” — but unfortunately, you can’t shut out all the allergens all the time.

“Limiting your exposure to allergens is the best way to protect your eyes from the irritation associated with allergies, but that's not always realistic,” agrees Hilal-Campo. “Taking an over-the-counter antihistamine and regularly flushing your eyes with saline can go a long way toward improved comfort.”

You may also want to swap your contact lenses for eyeglasses during this time. According to Hilal-Campo, “contacts act like little magnets for particulate matter,” whereas glasses are more protective.

Kids are back in school — and bringing home germs

Children aren’t exactly known for their vigilance when it comes to hand-washing. And with school back in session, it’s easy enough for them to touch something, rub their eyes and cause an infection — which could spread to the rest of the family.

“Anyone can get an eye infection, but those who need help practicing proper hygiene and are exposed to lots of bacteria are especially susceptible,” Hilal-Campo says. “Kids pick up a lot of germs at school and during extracurricular activities.”

Hilal-Campo says a common eye infection kids pick up is conjunctivitis, or pink eye, which causes redness, itching and discharge in the eyes. They also may get a stye, which is a painful bump on the eyelid. There’s also blepharitis, which leads to inflamed, crusty eyelids. These infections are caused by bacteria or viruses.

Though not specifically eye infections, staph and strep infections can lead to bacterial conjunctivitis as well as eyelid inflammation. In more severe cases, they may cause secondary infections which can impact eye tissues.

It’s important to seek medical attention if you suspect you or your family member has an eye infection, and to practice good hygiene (such as washing your hands frequently, avoiding touching your eyes and not sharing towels, pillowcases or personal items) to prevent spreading the infections.