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After a decade of grainy, dry, sore eyes, I finally implemented a routine that significantly improved my eye health.

For most of my adult life, I’ve been battling irritated eyes. Worsening with age and ever increasing screen time, I reached a breaking point. On top of the near-constant unpleasant feeling, I regularly contracted styes that would often turn infected.

After many visits to Ophthalmologists and General Practitioners, I assembled a routine and arsenal of products that has stopped the cycle of styes and provided regular relief for my eyes.

Below are the products and practices from which I personally have found success.

PRODUCTS

Humidifier: I live in a dry environment and utilize one or more humidifiers any given day to keep my home at an optimal humidity. My bedroom humidifier runs every single night — not only does it add moisture, but the white noise is calming & helps me sleep more soundly.
Hand sanitizer: read more below about staying clean :) I use sanitizer more than I should, but I feel much more confident in the cleanliness of my hands with sanitizer vs. soap. I keep bottles strategically placed around the house and use a spritz whenever I need to touch my eyes.
Eye drops: a staple for any dry eye sufferer — these are my favorite and have been recommended to me by several doctors. I keep a bottle in my bathroom and in my purse and use them whenever I feel irritation creep in.
OCuSOFT Oust Demodex Foam Cleanser: this eye-specific cleanser is a game changer. It has a minty, tingly sensation that is oh so refreshing. Initially it was part of my morning routine, but recently I’ve been storing it in my shower to use post workout.
OCuSOFT HypoChlor Spray: this spray (as advised by my doctor) is best used in conjunction with the OCuSOFT cleanser. Follow instructions on the bottle to add an extra layer of cleanliness to your eyes by removing debris that could cause your eyes irritation.
Bruder mask: this tool has multiple uses (e.g., relieving sinus pressure) but I employ it to sooth sore eyes and treat eye styes. A version of a hot compress, this is an easier and mobile solution. Pop this guy into the microwave for 30 seconds then place it over your eyes and relax for 8-10 minutes. The compress stays warm the full session and doesn’t require messy hot water. I use a tissue between my eyes and the mask for an added layer of cleanliness (are you sensing a theme?!) :)

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PRACTICES

Keep your hands clean. Wash your hands or use sanitizer frequently. Try not to touch your face with dirty hands.

Think twice before touching your eye(s). I have a cat that sheds regularly and thus am CONSTANTLY extracting stray furs out of my eyes. If I feel the urge to touch my eye, I take a second to think about what I’ve recently touched (e.g., remote, phone, keyboard) — and then 9 times out of 10 I’ll clean my hands first. In a pinch, if unable to wash or sanitize, I’ll use the inside of my shirt (if clean) or a fresh tissue.

Nitty gritty tip: try not to touch your nose or mouth and then your eyes. These areas have bacteria that can cause issues for your eyes (e.g., styes) if transferred. When washing my face, I rinse the face wash off my eyes first, then my nose and mouth.

Use basic lubricating eye drops frequently. Similar to applying hand lotion, these non-prescription “everyday” eye drops are intended to be used whenever needed. If I feel dryness or soreness coming on, I’ll immediately stop what I’m doing and add some drops to mitigate compounding discomfort.

Embrace glasses! I didn’t believe these would make a difference — but they most certainly have. I was issued a pair of reading glasses with a mild prescription and blue light protection about a year ago. The first few uses resulted in dizziness and headaches, so I put them away and “moved on”. I can’t recall what made me pull them back out for round 2, but I leaned in, got past the dizziness phase, and now they are an essential component of my daily routine. As a person who stares at a screen ~2/3 of each day, my eyes are tiiiired at the end of the day. Wearing glass for some portion of the day (typically when working on my laptop) has drastically improved the tiredness-level my eyes feel each night.

The main benefit of glasses in this scenario is their ability to reduce the level of stress / strain on your eyes, which causes them to feel sore, tired, etc. There are many alternate solutions for reducing eye strain such as taking screen breaks, targeted eye exercises, etc. Research some ideas or talk with a medical professional about options best suited for you.

SUMMARY

Utilize tools specially designed to provide eye comfort.

Keep your eyes moisturized + hydrated.

Reduce stress on your eyes.

Keep your eyes clean.

With most, if not all of the above tips, consistency is key. Give new routines time to settle in and show results. Mix and match to see what works best for you, and consider creating a rotating routine to maximize benefits.

Hoping these ideas provide relief to your tired and / or dry eyes!