Morning Routine

Do you have a morning routine?  In my last blog, I talked about a few steps I take to get myself mentally, emotionally, and physically prepared for the day.  But, I also have a few steps that I ask myself and my patients do to prepare their eyes for the day. 

 

This fall, both of my children were in what we now call, “big girl school“.  No more school bus for one and Mother's Day Out for the other.  We all walk out the door together, and we are dressed and ready to take on the day.

 

So this year, I have been doing a lot of thinking about morning routines. How do my kids not know that they’re supposed to put their shoes on before we walk out the door?  It was trying at first, but we are getting the hang of it all now.

 

To make things go smoothly, I have even gone so far as to write a list of our morning routine steps and post it on the bathroom mirror.  The routine goes a little something like this: go to the bathroom, wash hands, brush teeth, brush hair, and get dressed.  I think you get the point.  But, when you’re learning a new routine sometimes we just need to spell it out.

 

The same is true for your eye care.  If you have been newly diagnosed with dry eyes, you may not be used to taking extra self-care steps to alleviate your symptoms.  For myself and my patients, the eye care routine I developed is called "Four and Out the Door".  If you have read Rachel Hollis's book, "Girl, Stop Apologizing", then you might understand where I got the inspiration for this title. 

 

I actually have a handout that I give my patients which spells it out.  I made a special version just for you, you can download it here.

 

You can use a microwavable moist heat mask or an electronic plug-in mask.  Put the mask in the microwave for 20 seconds and leave it over your eyes for 8 - 12 minutes.  It may be a good time to share your morning meditation with this activity. Having 10 minutes of uninterrupted peace in the morning could change your mood for the rest of the day. 

 

 

After you get out of the shower, cleanse your lids and lashes.  This step removes excess bacteria from this delicate part of the body that we don't generally spend too much time cleaning.  If you were makeup or contact lenses, chances are you have more than your fair share of bacteria living between your lashes. 

 

HypoChlor spray is gentle enough to kill the bacteria without irritating the skin of your lids.  Closer your eyes and spray it directly to your clean and dry lids.  Rub the spray into your eyelashes with your fingertips.  Do not rinse it away.  Simply let it air dry.

 

 

Use a drop of preservative-free artificial tears or any prescription eye drops to treat your dry eyes.  This step will help rinse away any irritants from your eyes and provide a clean slate for new tear production.

 

Wait at least 10 minutes, after instilling prescription eye drops,  before inserting contact lenses.  Once your contact lenses are in, you are ready to apply your make up.

 

 

After breakfast, take an anti-inflammatory supplement.  The reason that your eyes are dry comes from both external factors as well as internal factors. 

 

HydroEye works from the inside to promote healthy tear glands and support tear production.  This formulation is a proprietary blend of omega fatty acids and nutrient cofactors that help reduce irritation and support all three layers of the tear film.

 

I always recommend that patients take these with a meal.  Using an inferior brand of omega supplements can give to you a bad aftertaste.  HydroEye by ScienceBased Health has a 60-day money-back guarantee.

 

 

All right, your eyes are ready for the day.  You may recognize this system "Four and Out the Door" as the same as the 4 Simple Steps to Alleviate Dry Eyes that I talk about in this blog.  Taking care of your eyes and preparing them for the day is the best tool to alleviate your dry eye symptoms. 

 

Performing these self-care steps with the morning routine you're already used to doing, like brushing your teeth and taking a shower, will make them fit into your lifestyle more easily.  These daily practices can make a big impact on the health and comfort of your eyes.  Download the schedule here.  Go on out and have a great day.  You are ready.