Taking good care of your eyes is essential to keep them bright and healthy. The skin around your eyes is important, too.

Air at high altitudes, in desert climates, and in airplanes can be especially dry. Smoke and wind, hair dryers, and car heaters that blow directly into your eyes can also dry out your eyes.

Avoid dry air if you can, and carry eye drops to help hydrate your eyes when you know you’ll be in a dry environment.

Placing green tea bags on your eyelids may help reduce swelling and ease discomfort.

To make a green tea compress:

1. Steep two tea bags in warm water.
2. Let the tea bags cool completely, or put them in the fridge for about 15 minutes.
3. Once cooled, lie down, close your eyes, and place them on your eyelids for 10 minutes.

Try to increase your dietary intake of these fatty acids to keep your eyes healthy before reaching for supplements. Some food sources of omega fatty acids include:

If you’re not getting enough omega fatty acids from your diet, consider taking a daily supplement.

Apply a few drops of rose water to your eyes with an eyedropper. You can also dab your eyelids with a cotton ball soaked in rose water to reduce swelling or puffiness.

• health food stores
• organic retailers
• online

Talk with your eye doctor before using rose water on your eyes.

1. Cut two clean cucumber slices about a half-inch thick.
2. Lie down, close your eyes, and apply a slice to each eyelid for 15 minutes.

To perform an eye massage:

1. Use your index and middle fingertips to gently tap in a circle around your eyes to help increase blood flow to the area.
2. Start along your eyebrows, then move your fingertips outward to the edge of your eyes, and down along the top of your cheekbones, moving inward toward the bridge of your nose.
3. Circle your eyes three times with your fingertips.
4. Use your middle fingers to press upward on either side of your nose, right below your brow bone.
5. Use your middle fingers to press inward toward your nose, next to your tear ducts.
6. Avoid pulling or dragging your skin while moving your fingertips around your eye area.
7. Repeat this massage for 30 or more seconds to wake up the area around your eyes.

If you aren’t getting adequate sleep, your eyes will likely show signs of fatigue and sleep deprivation. Aim to get 7 to 9 hours of sleep nightly.

Protecting your eyes from the sun may prevent dry eyes and reduce your risk of sunburn on your eyelids or the sensitive skin under your eyes.

Consider wearing wraparound sunglasses with ultraviolet (UV) protection when exposed to direct sunlight. You can add safety shields to the sides to block wind and dry air.

Try to drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water — or more — daily to ensure your body has enough moisture to keep your eyes and skin lubricated and hydrated.

How much water you need, however, varies by:

• person
• where you live
• your levels of exercise

If you do work that requires visual concentration, like reading or looking at a computer screen, take eye breaks at least once every 20 minutes. Visually focusing on one area for too long may dry, tire, or irritate your eyes.

Try closing your eyes for a few minutes or follow the 20-20-20 rule to give your eyes a break.

Blinking quickly and often for a few seconds can help spread your eye’s natural tears evenly over your eyes’ surface.

You can buy OTC eye drops containing humectants (substances that help retain moisture), lubricants, and electrolytes at a pharmacy and online.

If those don’t help, talk with your eye doctor about prescription eye drops.

Try to limit your sodium intake to less than 2,300 milligrams (2.3 grams) daily — the equivalent of 1 teaspoon — to prevent water retention and keep your blood pressure under control.

If your eyes feel puffy or swollen, try using a cold compress. Holding a washcloth soaked in cold water to your eyes for 10 minutes may soothe them and ease inflammation.