After I turned 50 (!), my eyes started feeling like I had sandpaper behind my eyelids. Dry, painful, and beyond annoying. The eye doctor recommended eye drops and warm compresses. It helped a little, but the results were very short lived.
Apparently, the oils in the lower lids that are supposed to keep your eyes moisturized harden as our hormones change with aging, and block the ducts that release them. Lovely (eye roll implied).
So, as I do, I started trying to figure out what would be the most helpful for me, because constantly raining eyedrops into my eyes wasn’t cutting it – although they definitely help when my eyes are screaming for immediate relief (this one is my fave).
Nutritionally, increasing foods that are rich in healthy fats – like salmon, nuts, seeds, avocados – is beneficial for helping dry eyes. Anything full of water and antioxidants, like fruits and vegetables, is essential for eye health, too. But this will not be an overnight, magical fix, of course.
Of all the things I’ve been experimenting with, the wildest thing that’s actually helping is a supplement. It’s not an overnight fix, either, but after about a month of taking it, I’m noticing my eyes are bothering me far less than before. I went an entire week without even noticing my eyes while I was traveling, and that’s a new record. Not even an extra blink occurred until I got back on the plane for my 8 hour, overnight flight.
Sea Buckthorn Omega-7 supplements not only help your eyes, they can really help with other areas (ahem) that tend to be dry during midlife, too, so watch for multiple benefits. It’s great for skin health, too.
I got the starter kit of the sea buckthorn supplements, and put the refill packets on autoship, because I’m really getting tangible results here.
Another thing I’m working to improve is my hydration. We all know we should drink more water, and then we forget during the day as we get busy.
Here’s a few of my favorite hydration helpers:
*If you’re looking for a really clean electrolyte powder with zero calories and sugar, try this Nectar variety pack. The flavors are really subtle, and it’s not so high in sodium that it’s gonna mess with your other important health markers.
*Not a fan of electrolyte powders? Try coconut water! This one comes in convenient cans.
*Another favorite of mine is Tazo Passion tea. It’s hibiscus based, and is amazing iced. In a pinch, you can even toss a teabag into your water jug, and within a few minutes, it’s infused. I drink it a lot in the warm months.
The other big thing every eye doctor will prescribe is warm compresses. I did that, and I got sick of having to warm it back up under the faucet every couple of minutes, and didn’t enjoy being soggy, either. Here’s an inexpensive gadget I found that stays warm, and has a timer, so you get the benefit of consistent heat. Try this heated eye mask; it’s a fantastic alternative to drippy, cold washcloths! Psst: it’s on sale right now!
One last thing that I use – and carry in my bag all the time now – is these eyelid wipes. I use them on my lashline to refresh my eyes when I’m traveling, or at night before bed, after a long day of staring at a screen.
Aging can really be a kick in the pants (or eyes, as it were), but with a few targeted helpers, we’ll get through it together. Wishing you happy eyes, friends.
As always, an actual human (me!) writes my posts, not an AI bot who thinks they know what I want to put on the “page.” All links are affiliate links, which means that I earn a small commission if you shop with me – and it doesn’t cost the buyer a single cent extra. Thanks for your support!
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