1. Morning and night, use a damp (not dripping) washcloth to clean the hair around your dog's eyes. Designate this washcloth as your dog's.
2. Avoid soap, which stings and irritates.
3. To remove excess buildup of matter in the hair under the eye, use your fingers to carefully sprinkle a teaspoon of baby powder into the hair under the eyes. Then, brush it in using a toothbrush or flea comb. The powder will help prevent dirt or other substances from reaching the hair follicles.
4. To keep the eyes clean, use eye drops or eye care products for dogs that contain sterile saline.
5. Ask your groomer to regularly (about every two to four weeks) clip the hair around the eyes, using thinning-shears, so they don't touch the eye or scratch the cornea.
6. To remove discoloration, use boric acid powder, available at drugstores and through mail order catalogs, or mix 1 part salt to 3 parts water and clean the area using a cotton swab. It's not recommended to use hydrogen peroxide; it can get into the eyes.