How did you break the constant need to touch your face? I tried to do that, and in 5 minutes I am back in touching some part of my face.
If I'm desperate, I rub them with some piece of clothing that's not much exposed to the air, such as the inside of my t-shirt. Or alternatively, washing my hands carefully with soap and water immediately before rubbing my eyes.
I can't say for sure if those measures helped, but it seems plausible based on my experience.
It takes years to develop that level of attentiveness, but it's oh-so-worth-it. And not just because it lets you avoid the seasonal colds :)