For a quick fix you can press against your eyes with ice cubes wrapped in tissue or tepid camomile or rooibos tea bags.

Eye diet
Remember the old adage that eating carrots will help you see better in the dark? Well, it's not so far from the truth. A study by the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary found that carotenoids, the natural pigments in carrots, help prevent age-related deterioration of your eyesight (known as macular degeneration). So, eat your carrots, spanspek and dark fruits or add supplements such as gingko, bilberry and lutein, found in Ocuvite and Eye Rx, to your diet.

Nutritionists also suggest cutting down on foods that raise your cholesterol level, which is not good for eye health either.

Smoke gets in your eyes
Cigarette smoke not only damages your lungs but also your eyes and complexion. It accelerates both macular degeneration and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Screen savers
Sore eyes are often blamed on TV and computer screens, but it's more likely the eye strain from staring at them unblinkingly for hours that's behind your tired, bloodshot peepers. Make sure you position your computer screen so that it's at eye level and there's no glare. Dust on the monitor, and concentrating on the screen for too long can irritate your eyes.

So, keep your screen clean, take regular breaks, use a humidifier and train yourself to blink often. To reverse dryness, wash your eyes with a blend of 30 ml rose water and 150 ml distilled water, or try the contact lens cleaner Renubath.

Making eyes
Raccoon eyes
Dark circles under your eyes can often be fixed easily with a good eight hours' sleep, which works wonders on those deoxygenated, bluish blood vessels on the surface of the skin around your eyes. But they may also be the result of bad circulation or illness, overindulgence in alcohol or your genes, in which case you'll need good camouflage.

Puffy eyes
Disguise swollen orbs by applying your normal foundation over the lid area and lightly dusting with a translucent powder. Make sure you brush away any surplus powder. Curl your lashes (this opens your eyes immediately) by attaching the curler to your lashes close to your eyelids and moving it outwards to the tips. Load on the mascara.

Highbrow
Eyebrows act as a frame for your eyes, giving balance to your face. Plucking is a simple art, but you often see it done so badly that it makes the person look surprised and ridiculous.

To get the right shape, place a pencil vertically from the inside corner of your eye alongside your nose and pluck any stray hairs that appear on the bridge side of the pencil. Then swivel the pencil to the outer corner of your eye (keeping the lower end against your nose) – this indicates where your brow should stop.

The highest point of the arch must line up with the centre of your pupil, so place the pencil vertically between pupil and brow and pluck from below according to the natural shape of your eye. We've always been told never to pluck above the brow, but zapping out those odd wild hairs gives a cleaner and more groomed effect.

Click here for more eyebrow plucking advice.

And here's a handy hint, use a large mirror so you can see both eyebrows at the same time and tweeze hairs, one at a time, in the direction they grow. A little ice helps ease the pain. Waxing is another route, but use it only if you're an expert because bald brows are not pretty!

40 winks
Plump up your lashes with a dusting of powder and then use a volume-building mascara. For added glamour, use individual false lashes on the outer corners of your eyes.

Treat dry, brittle lashes with a dab of petroleum jelly and leave off the mascara for a while.

Looking good
In the past we've teamed strong eyes with soft lips and vice versa, but this season on the catwalk the rules were broken. Black feline eyes – using liner that's smudged rather than neat and defined – is the look of choice.

Use a wet shadow or pencil and smudge along your top and bottom lashes, taper outwards and blend with a cotton-wool bud. Colour, too, is big, so don't be afraid to try it – gloss and shimmer remain hot favourites. For the latest looks of the season, try Chanel, Yardley, Revlon, L'Oreal, MAC, Almay and Estee Lauder.

Shape up
Small eyes look larger if you use a lighter mascara, such as brown or burgundy. Sparkly, glossy powders or cream shadows with a hint of pink, gold or lavender make your eyes look brighter and bigger.

Close-set eyes are easily rectified by applying a light, shiny colour on the inner corners of your upper and lower lids, while wide-set eyes need a darker shadow. Define deep-set eyes with an eyeliner and apply a single colour all over your lid, blending on and over the crease towards your brow.