A Healthy Daily Routine to Take Care of Your Eyes

The start of a new year is the perfect time to establish habits that boost your overall health and prioritize self-care. At Carolina Eye Doctors, we believe your eye health should be at the top of that list! Your eyes work hard every day, and maintaining their health requires consistent care, much like brushing and flossing your teeth to ensure proper oral hygiene. By incorporating simple, healthy habits into your daily routine, you can significantly protect your vision and keep your eyes comfortable. Here’s your guide to creating an eye care routine that supports optimal vision throughout 2025 and beyond. 

Morning Care: Start the Day Right

1. Wash Your Face Gently: Gently cleanse your face with a mild cleanser, focusing on the base of your lashes and eyebrows. This helps remove dirt, oils, and debris from the eyelids promoting overall eye comfort and supporting eyelid health. Some of our top recommendations include:

Tea Tree Eyelid Foaming Cleanser from We Love Eyes
(Available at Carolina Eye Doctors)

ZocuFoam Cleanser
(Available at Carolina Eye Doctors)

Epionce Cleansers suitable for different skin types
(Available at Carolina Eye Doctors)

2. Luminous Eye Serum formulated specifically for the delicate skin around your eyes. We Apply  right after cleansing, but before your eye cream and any other skincare steps, to ensure the product absorbs into the delicate skin around your eyes. Helps diminish the visible appearance of puffiness, dark circles, fine lines, wrinkles, and droopiness safely and without irritation.

Luminous Eye Serum (Available at Carolina Eye Doctors)

3. Sunscreen:The skin around your eyes is thin and delicate, making it more susceptible to sun damage. Applying a broad-spectrum, mineral-base SPF 50+ sunscreen to this area can help reduce the risk of skin cancer while also preventing fine lines and wrinkles.
4. Hypochlorous spray: It’s a gentle, non-irritating solution that helps cleanse and refresh the eyelid area reducing inflammation and promoting a balanced microbiome without harsh chemicals or preservatives. Particularly helpful for patients suffering with dry, allergic eyes. 

We Love Eyes Calm Eyelid & Eyelash Cleansing Spray with HypoChlorous
(Available at Carolina Eye Doctors)

5. Eye safe Make-up: Look for products that are Dermatologist-Tested and Ophthalmologist-Approved, indicating they’ve been tested for safety around the eyes and are free from potentially irritating toxic ingredients. Here are some of the brands we trust, wear, and keep in stock:

Eyes are the Story (Available at Carolina Eye Doctors)

Twenty Twenty Beauty (Available at Carolina Eye Doctors)

6. Omega-3 supplements: daily can be a great addition to your eye health routine, help increase the production of tear film and improve the quality of tears, reducing symptoms of dry eye syndrome. Nordic Naturals is available in gummies for kids, liquid or soft gel and in stock at Carolina Eye Doctors. 

Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Supplements (Available at Carolina Eye Doctors)

Throughout the Day: Protect and Refresh

1. Practice the 20-20-20 Rule: If you spend a lot of time on screens, take a break every 20 minutes to look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. This reduces digital eye strain and keeps your eyes feeling fresh.
2. Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day to prevent dry eyes, especially if you work in air-conditioned or heated environments.
3. Eat Vision-Boosting Foods: Include foods rich in omega-3s, vitamin A, C, and E, zinc, and lutein, such as leafy greens, carrots, salmon, and nuts.
4. Blink Frequently: Remember to blink often, especially when focusing on screens. Blinking helps keep your eyes lubricated and reduces strain.
5. Sunglasses: Protect your eyes from harmful UV rays by wearing sunglasses with 100% UVA and UVB protection whenever you step outside. Consider adding a hat for extra shielding.

Evening Care: Wind Down Properly

1. Remove Makeup: Failing to remove makeup or debris from your eyelids and lashes can lead to inflammation, irritation, or conditions like blepharitis. Thorough cleaning supports the natural function of your eyelids and tear film. If you wear eye makeup, ensure it’s completely removed before bed. Use a gentle makeup remover to avoid irritation or clogged glands. Our top pick is the Tea Tree Eye Makeup Remover Oil—an excellent choice for removing eye makeup without preservatives.

WLE Tea Tree Eye Makeup Remover Oil (Available at Carolina Eye Doctors)

2. Thoroughly Cleanse: Proper cleansing maintains a healthy balance of bacteria on your skin and eyelids, reducing inflammation and preventing issues like acne, eyelid infections, dry eye, or styes. Neglecting to cleanse can lead to free radical buildup, collagen breakdown, and premature aging. Our top recommendation is Epionce Cleansers—a versatile line that removes stubborn dirt, oil, and makeup while refreshing and calming the skin without irritation or over-drying.

Epionce Cleansers (Available at Carolina Eye Doctors)

3. Moisturize Before Bed: The skin around your eyes is thinner, more delicate, and produces less oil, making it prone to dryness, fine lines and wrinkles. This fragility is why the eye area often shows signs of aging more quickly than other parts of your face. Our preferred pick is Epionce Renewal Eye Cream, designed to reduce the appearance of fine lines, puffiness, and sagging with its blends of naturally protective, barrier-fortifying ingredients. 

Epionce Renewal Eye Cream  (Available at Carolina Eye Doctors)

4. Limit Screen Time Before Bed: Reduce screen exposure an hour before sleeping to give your eyes a break from blue light and improve sleep quality.
5. Apply a Warm Compress: Nightly warm compresses help dissolve hardened oil in your Meibomian glands, restoring proper oil flow, enhancing tear quality, and supporting better tear production. The heat also relaxes the muscles around your eyes, providing a soothing effect that reduces irritation and fatigue caused by dry eyes. Our trusted warm compress is TranquilEyes by EyeEcco, featuring their click-to-heat reusable gel packs.

TranquilEyes by EyeEcco (Available at Carolina Eye Doctors)

6. Use a humidifier or sleep goggles: Dry indoor air, especially in winter, can cause irritation and discomfort. A humidifier helps soothe these symptoms by increasing humidity. Alternatively, our suggestion is the EyeSeal 4.0 sleep mask. It is soft, flexible, and designed for comfort. It blocks dry air and creates a moisture-rich environment, making it ideal for those with morning dryness or CPAP users.

EyeSeal 4.0 sleep mask (Available at Carolina Eye Doctors)

At Carolina Eye Doctors, we stress the importance of daily habits that promote eye health and vision. By adding simple steps to your routine, you can prevent discomfort and fatigue, ensuring optimal performance every day. Our top-rated products are always available at our office, so you can start caring for your eyes today and experience the benefits tomorrow!

Ready to prioritize your eye health? Schedule your next eye exam today and let’s keep your vision clear, bright and comfortable!