Whether you get itchy eyes from your best friend’s cat or you can’t stop blinking in cold weather, you’re probably suffering from dry eyes. It’s an all-too-common condition that brings discomfort (and sometimes tears). Depending on the circumstance, dry eyes can be a cause or effect of other issues, bringing symptoms like sensitivity, sensations of stinging or burning, itchiness, red eyes and more.
“There are two main types of dry eye disease: evaporative and aqueous deficient dry eyes,” explains optometrist Dr. Mei Fleming of Luminance Vision Optometry. “In evaporative dry eyes, the tears you produce evaporate too quickly. In aqueous deficient dry eyes, you don’t produce enough tears.”
Evaporative dry eyes are the most common, and thankfully, there is an easy remedy that can help: Heated eye masks are one of the best ways to ease the uncomfortable symptoms that come with the condition. Ahead, we delve into how the expert-approved dry eye remedy works, what causes dry eyes in the first place and the best heated eye masks to try at home.
What causes dry eyes?
There are numerous factors — from medications, to your lifestyle, to environmental conditions — that can cause dry eye symptoms. Fleming gives us a comprehensive rundown of different triggers:
- Aging: As people age, tear production decreases, leading to dry eyes.
- Environmental factors: Exposure to dry, windy or smoky air contributes to the evaporation of tears and worsens dry eye symptoms.
- Screen time: Prolonged periods of screen time (computers, smartphones, tablets) reduces blink rate and leads to dry eyes. Blinking functions to spread tears that nourish the eyes.
- Contact lenses: Wearing contact lenses can increase the risk of dry eye due to decreased oxygen flow to the cornea and reduced tear circulation.
- Cosmetics: Many cosmetic products contain ingredients that are irritating to the eye and trigger dry eye symptoms.
- Medications: Medications such as antihistamines, decongestants, antidepressants and hormone replacement therapies can cause or worsen dry eye symptoms.
- Medical conditions: Conditions like Sj?gren’s syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, diabetes, thyroid disorders and rosacea are associated with dry eye disease.
- Hormonal changes: Fluctuations in hormone levels, especially in women during pregnancy, menopause or while taking birth control, can contribute to dry eye symptoms.
- Allergies: Allergic reactions, especially in the eyes, can cause dryness and irritation. Seasonal allergens like pollen can also exacerbate inflammation of the eyes and contribute to dryness.
- Eyelid problems: Conditions like floppy eyelids, blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelids) or meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) disrupt the production of moisturizing tears.
- Eye surgeries: Surgeries such as eyelid lifting (blepharoplasty) and LASIK can temporarily or permanently cause dry eye symptoms, as they affect tear production and distribution.
- Prolonged use of eye drops: Overuse of certain eye drops, like those containing preservatives, can lead to dry eye symptoms.
While some of these are situational, dry eye can also be a chronic condition. “While some individuals may experience dry eyes sporadically, others may suffer from chronic dryness that significantly impacts their quality of life,” shares Connecticut-based optometrist Dr. Inna Lazar.
Dry eyes are especially common in the winter. “Dry eye tends to be worse in the wintertime, from the cold wind and the dry indoor air, which also increases tear evaporation,” says Dr. Diane Hilal-Campo, board-certified ophthalmologist and founder of Twenty/Twenty Beauty.
How does heat help dry eyes?
“Heat helps dry eyes by stimulating the production and flow of meibum, the oily substance in your tears that prevents evaporation,” explains Lazar.
Meibum comes from the meibomian glands, which are “tiny organs that reside behind our eyelashes,” according to Hilal-Campo. “If these glands are damaged, which can be caused by eye conditions like blepharitis and harmful ingredients in eye makeup or beauty treatments,” she continues, “they won’t function properly, leaving your eyes dry and uncomfortable.”
Using heated eye masks to treat dry eyes helps improve the meibomian gland function and restore the meibum within tears. “This oil layer reduces tear evaporation and maximizes the tear contact time so that tears can bathe, nourish and moisturize the eyes,” says Fleming.
Along with using heat to ease dryness, experts say it’s important to keep your eyes clean and clear. “Dry eyes are more susceptible to infection, which makes it very important to keep the eye area clean,” Hilal-Campo says.
When the eyes are not cleaned regularly, the meibomian glands are more at risk of becoming clogged, inflamed and irritated. Fleming says to clean your eyelid-eyelash margins to prevent bacteria and mite plaque buildup that can contribute to this.
Eye hygiene essentials
Hilal-Campo created this spray to provide “a very simple-to-use face mist. [It] uses a gentle ingredient naturally produced in the body, hypochlorous acid, to sanitize the eyes, and can even be sprayed directly into open eyes to keep the entire eye area, including lashes, free of bacteria.”
“Daily cleaning prevents bacteria buildup that keep eyelid glands clogged,” says Fleming. She says to use two drops of this cleansing gel to keep the area clean.
Fleming recommends using this gentle brush along with the cleansing gel. It has a unique tiered design that makes it easy to brush the delicate area.
Each of the experts highlighted the importance of omega-3 fatty acids for eye heath, and specifically for treating dry eyes. Fleming recommends these supplements, which she says “are ultra purified to help your glands produce healthy, long-lasting tears.”
How to use a heated eye mask
Since there are a variety of options — from reusable electric models to single-use self-heating masks — you should follow the manufacturer’s directions for your mask of choice, but you can take the experts’ advice into consideration too.
“It is best to use a heated eye mask twice a day for 10 minutes at a time, followed by blinking to help the oils secrete into the tears, to help relieve the symptoms of dry eye,” Hilal-Campo says.
The mask should be warm but still comfortable. “It’s essential to ensure the mask’s temperature is safe and comfortable to avoid damage,” Lazar says. Hilal-Campo suggests testing the heat of the mask on the inside of your wrist before applying it to the eye area.
And with that, check out the experts’ top picks for heated eye masks that will bring your dry eyes relief (and will just feel great too).
Reusable heated eye masks for dry eyes
“I like that this mask fits closely to the eye, delivering targeted warmth to the eyes without wasting too much energy on the skin beyond the orbital bone,” says Hilal-Campo. “It’s ophthalmologist tested and has four different and controlled heat settings, and is also easy to clean, which is critical to maintaining ocular health.”
This wireless, app-enabled eye mask combines pressure massage, heat and vibration to relieve dry or fatigued eyes and provide relaxation. I love its customizable settings that allow you to choose your desired combination of therapies. Plus, the mask’s Bluetooth speaker allows you to pair and play music or choose from preset tranquil sounds.
Lazar says that Eye Eco has a number of reusable mask options, including these convenient goggles. Within the padded memory foam, the internal beads can be microwaved or put in the freezer for hot or cold therapy.
“Another great self-heating but reusable option is the TearRestore mask,” Lazar says. Because of its open-eye style, “it provides heat while allowing you to continue with your busy schedule, again improving compliance,” the optometrist adds.
Disposable heated eye masks for dry eyes
“Disposable self-heating masks can be a convenient solution for dry eyes, especially for busy individuals, as it eliminates the need to heat up reusable masks,” Lazar says. She recommends these travel-friendly eye mask packets that can provide relief anytime, anywhere.
Fleming likes these masks for patients who are traveling or on the go. “This product is convenient, portable and easy to use,” she says. “These eye masks deliver gentle, moist heat, which research has shown to be more effective in unclogging eyelid meibomian glands than dry heat alone.”
Hilal-Campo loves “that these masks self-heat (so you don’t risk overheating them like you would with masks that need to be microwaved) and are disposable, which means you get a sanitary experience every time you use a treatment,” she says, adding, “They contain only four clean ingredients and are well priced.”
For a spa-like experience, this self-warming mask is infused with the scent of Japanese hinoki for added relaxation and tension relief. Reviewers love the calming effect of the fragrance paired with the eye relief benefits.
