Telling a patient to just use a hot washcloth would be doing them an injustice because the heat dissipates too quickly to do anything to the oil in the glands. Science says in order for the oil in our glands to melt, it needs to be heated to at least 40 degrees Celcius for at least 8-10 minutes, followed by massaging our eyelids with our fingertips to push out the oil that just got melted. The most successful method is a reheatable hot mask. Results vary quite a bit depending on the type of warm compress used. Unfortunately, all compresses are not created equal. This leads us to the drawbacks of using a warm compress. It’s a simple and accessible way to address your dry eyes, but the results can be spotty depending on how and when you do it.

A lot of variables need to be in place to get the best possible results. However, these results vary significantly. The short answer is yes – there is research indicating that warm compresses can improve tear quality and help alleviate dry eye symptoms. The answer to this question is a complicated one. The idea behind a warm compress is to soften the oil, allowing it to flow more freely. Sometimes, tears don’t get enough meibum because the oil has hardened inside the glands. Evaporative dry eye develops when your tears don’t have enough oil and evaporate from the surface of the eye. Your tears are coated in a layer of oil called meibum, which prevents tears from evaporating too quickly. The second and most common type of dry eye disease is called evaporative dry eye, which accounts for almost 90% of all dry eye. Aqueous deficient dry eye is common in people who suffer from different autoimmune diseases such as Sjogren’s syndrome. This means that your eyes do not produce enough liquid for your tears. The first is called aqueous deficiency dry eye. There are two major types of dry eye disease. To understand the use of warm compresses, we first have to know how dry eye works. Why Do People Use Warm Compresses for Dry Eye? Let’s unpack the science of warm compresses, the pros and cons, and some alternative options. But does it actually work? If it does, is there a more efficient way to do it? Whether it’s a special mask or a simple warm washcloth, people have been using this technique for years. One of the most popular at-home remedies for dry eye at home is the warm compress.

Hot compress for eyes