I was having lunch with an old colleague last week when something struck me about his appearance. We’re the same age, both 64, yet his eyes looked tired and dull, almost glazed over.
Meanwhile, I’d just run into my 72-year-old neighbor that morning, and her eyes practically sparkled with life.
The difference wasn’t about genetics or expensive treatments. It was about habits.
After years of observing people age around me and diving into research on vitality in later life, I’ve noticed that people with bright, youthful eyes maintain specific daily practices that most of us abandon after 60.
The eyes truly are windows to our overall health and engagement with life. When someone looks worn down, it shows first in their eyes.
But when someone maintains their vitality, their eyes reflect that inner energy regardless of their age.
Here are eight habits I’ve identified that keep eyes looking bright and alert well into your seventies and beyond.
1) They protect their eyes from sun damage religiously
Most people think sunglasses are about comfort or looking cool. Wrong.
Those who maintain bright eyes into their seventies understand that UV damage accumulates over decades, causing not just wrinkles around the eyes but actual cloudiness in the eye itself.
I learned this the hard way after years of squinting through bright days. Now, quality sunglasses are non-negotiable whenever I step outside, even on cloudy days.
UV rays penetrate clouds, and that cumulative damage shows up as premature aging around the eyes and cataracts later.
The people with the brightest eyes in their seventies started this habit decades ago. They wear wraparound styles that protect from side exposure, and they replace scratched lenses that can strain the eyes.
This simple habit preserves both the skin around the eyes and the clarity of the eyes themselves.
2) They stay properly hydrated throughout the day
Dehydration shows in your eyes faster than anywhere else on your body. Those slightly sunken, dull-looking eyes that many people develop with age? Often it’s chronic mild dehydration.
After retirement, it’s easy to forget to drink water. You’re not in meetings, not walking to the water cooler, not maintaining the same routines. But people who keep bright eyes understand that hydration directly affects eye appearance and function.
I keep water glasses strategically placed around my home now. One by my reading chair, one on my desk, one by the bed.
The goal isn’t to force massive amounts of water but to sip consistently throughout the day. Your eyes need that moisture to maintain their natural shine and the skin around them needs hydration to stay supple.
3) They get quality sleep consistently
Nothing ages your eyes faster than poor sleep. Those dark circles and puffy bags aren’t just cosmetic issues. They signal that your body isn’t getting the restoration time it needs.
People with bright eyes into their seventies treat sleep as sacred. They maintain regular sleep schedules, even in retirement when it’s tempting to stay up late because you don’t have morning obligations.
They understand that the repair work your body does during deep sleep directly impacts how refreshed and alert your eyes appear.
I’ve noticed that when I compromise on sleep to finish a book or watch another episode, it shows immediately in my eyes the next day. The whites look less white, the overall appearance is duller. Quality sleep is like a reset button for your eyes.
4) They limit screen time and take regular breaks
We’re the first generation aging with decades of screen exposure, and it shows in our eyes. People who maintain bright eyes understand that screens cause a specific kind of strain that accumulates over time.
The 20-20-20 rule has become essential in my daily routine. Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. It sounds simple, but most people ignore this basic eye care principle.
They stare at screens for hours, then wonder why their eyes look tired and strained.
Those with youthful eyes also adjust their screen brightness, use blue light filters in the evening, and actually step away from devices regularly.
They’ve learned that constant screen exposure creates a distinctive tired look that ages the eyes prematurely.
5) They eat foods rich in eye-supporting nutrients
The connection between diet and eye brightness is more direct than most people realize. Those leafy greens, colorful vegetables, and omega-3 rich fish aren’t just good for your body.
They specifically support eye health and appearance.
People who maintain bright eyes load up on foods high in lutein, zeaxanthin, vitamin C, vitamin E, and zinc. These nutrients protect against age-related eye issues and maintain the clarity that makes eyes appear youthful.
They understand that what you eat shows up in your eyes within weeks.
Since adjusting my diet to include more of these foods, the difference has been noticeable. The whites of my eyes are clearer, and that tired look I used to have by afternoon has largely disappeared.
6) They maintain good posture and neck alignment
This one surprised me, but poor posture actually affects how your eyes look. When you slouch or crane your neck forward, it restricts blood flow and creates tension that shows up as tired-looking eyes.
People with bright eyes maintain awareness of their posture throughout the day. They set up their reading and work spaces to support good alignment.
They understand that the way you hold your body affects circulation to your face and eyes.
During my morning walks, I consciously work on my posture, pulling my shoulders back and keeping my head aligned. This simple practice improves circulation and reduces the strain that makes eyes appear tired and old.
7) They manage stress through consistent practices
Chronic stress shows in your eyes before almost anywhere else. That worried, tense look around the eyes ages people dramatically. Those who maintain bright eyes have developed reliable stress management practices.
Whether through meditation, walking, gardening, or other calming activities, they’ve found ways to regularly release tension. They understand that stress creates a cascade of physical responses that dull the eyes and create tension lines.
My daily walks serve this purpose for me. They clear my head and release the physical tension that accumulates. When I skip them, I can see the difference in my eyes by evening.
8) They stay engaged and curious about life
The brightest eyes belong to people who remain interested in the world around them. Curiosity and engagement create a literal sparkle that no cosmetic product can replicate.
People with youthful eyes into their seventies read widely, engage in conversations, learn new things, and maintain interests beyond their immediate concerns.
They understand that mental engagement shows physically in the brightness and alertness of their eyes.
Since retirement, I’ve made it a point to stay intellectually engaged through writing and reading.
That mental stimulation keeps a certain alertness in my eyes that passive activities like excessive TV watching simply don’t provide.
Closing thoughts
Maintaining bright, youthful eyes into your seventies isn’t about expensive treatments or fighting the natural aging process. It’s about understanding that your eyes reflect your overall health, habits, and engagement with life.
The people I know in their seventies and eighties with the most vibrant eyes aren’t trying to look younger. They’re simply maintaining practices that keep them healthy, engaged, and protected from unnecessary damage.
These habits compound over time, creating a visible difference that goes far beyond cosmetics.
Start with one or two of these habits and build from there. Your future self will thank you when you’re looking at the world through bright, clear eyes well into your later years.
