How to Clean Your Eyes Safely and Maintain Healthy Eyes

Introduction

In today’s environment, especially with increased screen time, our eyes are more prone to dryness, redness, strain, and fatigue¹. Pollution and airborne particles can further irritate the eyes, leading to itching, watering, or discomfort². This makes eye hygiene an essential part of daily self-care. 

One simple yet effective way to maintain eye hygiene is through proper eye cleaning. Simple, safe cleaning practices combined with healthy daily habits can go a long way in protecting your vision and keeping your eyes feeling fresh and healthy. In this article, we will discuss safe methods to clean your eyes and practical tips to maintain overall eye health.

Why Eye Cleaning Is an Important Part of Eye Care?

Did you know that our eyes are self-cleaning organs? This means they are naturally capable of cleaning themselves through the production of tears and the act of blinking³. A continuous layer of tears (produced by glands in and around the eyelids) spreads across the surface of the eye every time we blink. This tear film keeps the eyes moist, helps wash away dust and debris, and protects against infection^3,4.

However, there might be times when the eyes may need a little extra help. Prolonged screen time, excessive eye strain, and exposure to dust or foreign particles can overwhelm this natural cleaning system, leading to irritation, dryness, or discomfort. In such situations, safe eye-cleaning practices could be beneficial. Gentle and proper eye cleaning helps remove irritants, reduces the risk of infections, and keeps the eyes feeling comfortable and clear^5,6. Therefore, maintaining good eye hygiene is not just about immediate relief, it also supports long-term eye health.  

Step-by-Step Guide on Cleaning Your Eyes at Home

Below is a simple, safe, and effective way to clean your eyes at home: 

• Wash your hands thoroughly: Before touching your eyes, wash your hands with soap and clean water⁶. This is one of the most important steps to prevent transferring germs or dirt to your eyes. 
• Use clean water: Use clean drinking water⁶. Avoid using tap water if it is not safe for eye contact, as it may contain impurities that can irritate the eyes. 
• Gently rinse the eyes: Gently flush your eyes with water. This helps remove dust, debris, or mild irritants from the eye surface⁶. 
• Clean the eyelids and lashes: If there is discharge around the eyes, gently wipe the eyelids and lashes using a clean, soft cloth or cotton pad soaked in clean water⁶. Sometimes, special lid cleaning foam or medicated wipes may also be recommended by your doctor for eyelid infection or inflammation. Always wipe from the inner corner to the outer corner of the eye.  
• Dry Gently: Pat the area around your eyes dry using a clean towel. Do not share towels, handkerchiefs, or eye makeup with others. 

Note: Avoid rinsing or flushing your eyes with water too frequently throughout the day, as this can wash away natural tears. These tears are rich in electrolytes and essential nutrients that help nourish and protect the cornea, the front surface of the eye⁴. As a routine practice, washing the eyes once or twice a day is usually sufficient, unless there is irritation or a specific need for additional cleaning. 

Best Ways to Clean Your Eyes in Common Situations

Here are safe, practical ways to clean your eyes for everyday situations you may encounter, like dust exposure, screen fatigue, contact lens care, and cleaning children’s eyes.  

1. Dust or Smoke Exposure

Dust, smoke, or tiny particles can irritate the eye surface and make your eyes feel uncomfortable. 

• Gently rinse your eyes with clean, cool water to help wash away particles⁶. 
• Blink repeatedly to let your natural tear film flush out irritants. 
• To help soften any crusts on the eyelids, apply a warm compress. Gently cleaning the eyelids with diluted baby shampoo using a cotton pad can also help remove crusts¹³.

2. Screen Fatigue (Digital Eye Strain) 

Staring at screens for long periods reduces blinking and dries out the eyes, causing discomfort. 

• Blink more often to help spread your natural tears evenly across the eye surface. 
• Use preservative-free lubricating eye drops if eyes feel dry or gritty⁹.

3. Contact Lens Use 

Contact lenses require careful cleaning and handling to protect your eyes from irritation and infection. 

• Always wash and dry your hands before touching lenses or your eyes. 
• Remove the contact lenses and then flush your eyes gently with water⁶. 
• Always store your contact lenses in a clean lens case filled with fresh contact lens solution to keep them free from debris and reduce the risk of infection. 

4. Children’s Eye Cleaning 

Children’s eyes are delicate and easily irritated by dust, discharge, or debris. 

• Wash your hands before gently cleaning around your child’s eyes. 
• Use a clean, warm, damp washcloth or fresh cotton ball to wipe from the inner corner outward⁶. 
• Discard used cotton balls/tissues immediately to prevent spreading germs. 

5. Red or Irritated Eyes Due to Allergies  

Redness or mild irritation may occur due to allergies or chemical irritants (such as those found in makeup products). 

• Gently rinse away any discharge with clean water or a fresh, wet cloth⁵. 
• Apply a cold compress to help calm down itching. 
• If you have allergies, avoid known triggers such as pets, grass, or cosmetics when possible. Your doctor may prescribe antihistamine eye drops to relieve symptoms¹³. 
• If irritation persists, worsens, or is accompanied by pain, vision changes, or light sensitivity, see an eye doctor. 

6. Red Eyes Due to Mild Eye Infection  

Redness accompanied by discharge, stickiness, or discomfort may indicate a mild eye infection such as conjunctivitis (pink eye). 

• Wash hands thoroughly before and after touching the eyes (so the infection doesn’t spread to the unaffected eye). 
• Gently clean away discharge using clean water and a fresh cotton pad or soft cloth. 
• Avoid sharing towels, eye drops, cosmetics, or pillowcases, as infections spread easily. 
• Do not use contact lenses until symptoms resolve⁵. 
• Seek medical attention if symptoms worsen or are associated with pain, vision changes, light sensitivity, or do not improve within a few days. 

What to Avoid While Cleaning Your Eyes?

When cleaning eyes, certain habits can actually make irritation or infection worse rather than better. Here are key things you should avoid while cleaning your eyes: 

• Avoid rubbing your eyes: Rubbing can irritate the eyes further and may damage the delicate surface of the eye, especially if dirt or debris is present⁶.
• Do not touch your eyes with unwashed hands: Hands can carry germs that may easily spread to the eyes and cause infections such as conjunctivitis⁵. 
• Do not try to remove stuck foreign objects forcefully: If an object does not come out with gentle rinsing, trying to remove it with fingers or tools can injure the eye⁶. Try to seek medical help instead.
• Avoid using eye medications or ointments without medical advice: Using the wrong medication can worsen symptoms or delay proper treatment. 
• Do not use contaminated cloths or tissues: Always use a clean cloth or cotton pad⁶. Reusing dirty materials can spread infection from one eye to the other. 
• Avoid sharing towels, washcloths, or eye products: Sharing personal items increases the risk of spreading eye infections⁵. 

Eye Care Tips to Maintain Healthy Eyes

Taking care of your eyes goes hand in hand with looking after your overall health. The following eye care tips can help protect your vision and keep your eyes healthy in the long run: 

1. Choose Eye-Friendly Foods

Include plenty of dark, leafy green vegetables like spinach, kale, and collard greens in your diet, as they support eye health. Food items rich in omega-3 fatty acids¹⁶, such as salmon, tuna, walnuts, and flaxseed, also help maintain healthy eyes. In addition, vitamin A-rich foods like carrots and sweet potatoes play an important role in supporting good vision^14,17. 

2. Protect Your Eyes from Sunlight

Wearing sunglasses when outdoors helps shield your eyes from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays, even on cloudy days. Choose sunglasses that block at least 99 to 100% of UVA and UVB radiation to reduce the risk of long-term eye damage¹⁵. 

3. Give Your Eyes Regular Breaks from Screens

Prolonged screen use can cause eye strain and fatigue. Rest your eyes by following the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something about 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds¹⁴. 

4. Practice Good Contact Lens Hygiene

If you wear contact lenses, always wash your hands before handling them. Clean, disinfect, and replace lenses exactly as recommended to reduce the risk of eye infections⁵.

5. Use Protective Eyewear When Needed

Safety glasses or goggles should be worn during sports, home repairs, yard work, or activities where eye injury is possible. Protective eyewear helps prevent accidental eye trauma^14,18.

6. Maintain a Proper Viewing Distance When Using Screens

Keeping laptops or mobile devices too close can strain the eye muscles and lead to fatigue. So, ensure your screen is at a comfortable distance (about 25 inches or an arm’s length away) to reduce eye strain⁹. 

7. Maintain a Healthy Weight

Eating a balanced diet and staying physically active supports not just your body but your eyes, too. A healthy lifestyle lowers the risk of conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, which can negatively affect vision over time¹⁸.

8. Avoid Smoking

Smoking can harm eye health and increase the risk of conditions such as cataracts, macular degeneration, and optic nerve damage. Quitting smoking (or never starting) can significantly benefit your eyes^14,18.

9. Get Regular Eye Check-Ups

Routine comprehensive eye examinations help detect vision problems and eye diseases early, even before symptoms appear. Knowing your family’s eye health history can also help assess your risk for hereditary eye conditions^14,18.

Signs Your Eyes Need Medical Attention

Most eye irritation is minor, but some symptoms need prompt medical care. Stay calm and seek help if you notice any of the following⁶:

• Eye injury or penetration: A cut, scratch, or object entering the eye needs emergency care. 
• Chemical exposure: Rinse the eye immediately and see a doctor right away. 
• Ongoing eye pain with redness: This may signal infection or inflammation. 
• Eye pain with headache or nausea: Could indicate a more serious condition. 
• Sudden vision changes: Blurred, double, or reduced vision should be checked promptly. 
• Uncontrolled bleeding: Bleeding from the eye or nearby area needs urgent attention. 

Conclusion

Your eyes are delicate, hardworking organs that deserve regular care and attention. While they are naturally equipped to clean and protect themselves, everyday factors like dust, pollution, screen time, and strain may sometimes slow down this system. Therefore, practising safe eye-cleaning habits, protecting your eyes from injury and irritation, and adopting healthy daily routines can go a long way in maintaining clear, comfortable vision. 

It is also important to know when not to self-manage and when to seek medical help. Additionally, paying attention to warning signs and acting early can help prevent complications and protect long-term eye health.  

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Reference

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8. All About Emotional Tears – American Academy of Ophthalmology. Accessed February 3, 2026. Available from: https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/all-about-emotional-tears 

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11. Eye Infections | Conjunctivitis | Stye | MedlinePlus. Accessed February 5, 2026. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/eyeinfections.html 

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15. Taking Care of Your Eyes | Vision and Eye Health | CDC. Accessed February 3, 2026. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/vision-health/prevention/taking-care-of-your-eyes.html 

16.Omega-3 fats – Good for your heart: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. Accessed February 5, 2026. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000767.htm

17. 36 Fabulous Foods to Boost Eye Health. American Academy of Ophthalmology. November 21, 2024. Accessed February 3, 2026. Available from: https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/fabulous-foods-your-eyes 

18. Eye Care | Vision Care | MedlinePlus. Accessed February 3, 2026. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/eyecare.html 

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20. Zhang Q, Jiang Y, Deng C, Wang J. Effects and potential mechanisms of exercise and physical activity on eye health and ocular diseases. Front Med. 2024;11:1353624. doi:10.3389/fmed.2024.1353624. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38585147/

21.WHO EMRO – Limit fat, salt and sugar intake. Accessed February 3, 2026. Available from: https://www.emro.who.int/nutrition/reduce-fat-salt-and-sugar-intake/reduce-fat-salt-and-sugar-intake.html 

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