Dry eye disease is becoming increasingly common and increasingly more debilitating to everyday life for many people. There is a significantly long list of causative factors for the development and worsening of this condition: prolonged screen time, medications like antidepressants and diuretics, environmental factors, hormonal changes and concurrent ocular diseases are just a few. If you suffer from dry eyes, you may have been advised to lubricate them with artificial tear drops. This is a critical step in mitigating inflammation and increasing the hydration level on the ocular surface, however, does not address the primary cause of dry eye in the majority of patients: meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). If you are already using an artificial tear drop but not doing anything to target the meibomian glands in your eyelids, your dry eye will likely progress at a faster rate.
One of the best ways to target the meibomian glands is by using a moist heat eye mask or compress (1). The mask is used over closed eyes which directly stimulates the glands, melts any hardened oil secretions and helps to unclog the gland openings. The other benefit here is that the mask is a completely drug-free way to improve dry eye symptoms. Some artificial tear drops are composed of mostly synthetic products and heavy preservatives, so reaching for the artificial tears first is not always the best strategy. In this article you will find out why moist heat makes such a difference in dry eye management.
Reasoning for Application of Moist Heat
As mentioned previously, moist heat from an eye compress or heated mask directly stimulates the meibomian glands. The heat also increases blood circulation to the area which helps with healing and inflammation - the primary culprit of MGD and dry eye progression. Regular application of heat to unclog the glands is crucial to preserve their function in the long term. Dry heat can promote further dehydration of the area, however moist heat retains the humidity which helps keep the eyes feel more comfortable and hydrated. Newer research now shows reduction in certain bacteria and mite buildup with consistent use of a moist heat eye mask (2).
Safer Dry Eye Management
A moist heat compress or mask is one of the natural methods for improving dry eye symptoms. There are a few other reasons why this makes a heat mask a superior treatment modality:
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Avoids exposure to certain chemicals: There are many over-the-counter drops that contain synthetic or industrially produced chemicals, harsh preservatives that could increase redness and inflammation of the eyes, and some that even contain active medication causing dependency with long term use.
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Avoids side effects due to medications: Skipping the natural remedies and going right to topical medications for dry eye could put you at risk of quite a list of side effects, some more serious than others. In some cases, both the natural remedy as well as the medication may be necessary, however, trying natural first should be the way to go to potentially avoid unnecessary complications.
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Noninvasive, easy and relaxing: A heated eye mask ideally should be used for a 10-minute nightly treatment just before going to sleep. It is an easy addition to a night time routine to promote a relaxing, restful sleep.
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Cost-effective and eco-friendly: Heat masks are reusable - some even washable. Ask your eye care professional when you should replace your reusable mask.
How to incorporate moist heat into your eye care routine
As previously mentioned, this is a simple solution to improve dry eye symptoms. Reusable, moist heat eye masks are specifically designed for this. This is the ideal way to apply heat to the eye area as the temperature range stays within therapeutic levels for optimal meibum (oil) melting, and is maintained for the total treatment time of 10 minutes (4). The Blinkjoy Moist Heat Eye Compress fits all of these criteria. Using a washcloth or warm cotton pads will not be as effective (2) as you are unable to control or monitor the exact temperature being applied, risking ineffective temperature ranges or even burns to the eye area. In addition to this, these methods cool down too quickly for optimal treatment time (3).
Conclusions
When used consistently, moist heat therapy can significantly help with reducing ocular dryness and irritation. It is a simple, safe, proven and cost-effective solution to promote long-term overall ocular health. This 10-minute, easy nightly treatment can make a significant difference in managing dry eye disease without using medication or synthetic products. Ask your eye care practitioner if a heat mask could be helpful for the treatment of your dry eye disease.
References:
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Lee, Gladys. "Evidence-Based Strategies for Warm Compress Therapy in Meibomian Gland Dysfunction." Ophthalmology and Therapy 13.9 (2024): 2481-2493. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40123-024-00988-x
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Murphy, Orla, Veronica O’Dwyer, and Aoife Lloyd-Mckernan. "The efficacy of warm compresses in the treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction and demodex folliculorum blepharitis." Current eye research 45.5 (2020): 563-575. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02713683.2019.1686153
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Magno, Morten Schjerven, et al. "Hot towels: The bedrock of Meibomian gland dysfunction treatment–A review." Contact Lens and Anterior Eye 46.2 (2023): 101775. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1367048422002387
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Bzovey, Brandon, and William Ngo. "Eyelid warming devices: safety, efficacy, and place in therapy." Clinical Optometry(2022): 133-147. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.2147/OPTO.S350186#d1e159
Contributors:
Sarah Farrag, OD
Dr. Sarah Farrag is originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia, and is happy to be practicing optometry in her hometown. She graduated with honors from the University of Waterloo Doctor of Optometry program in June 2015. In addition to routine optometric care, Dr. Farrag also facilitates an advanced dry eye clinic offering specialty consultation and treatment for severe chronic dry eye.
