Hot Flannel or washcloth over eyes doesn't work

Have you been told to use a hot flannel over eyes and massage for your dry eye treatment routine? Sadly, it is not going to work and here's why.

While this was once the way optometrists educated their patients on good at home care to help the oil glands and prevent styes in the treatment of dry eye disease and blepharitis, we know better now.

A hot flannel/washcloth can be too hot at first and burn the skin.  But also the hot flannel will not keep consistent heat for the necessary 5 minutes.  

In order to fully heat the oil glands on the upper and lower lids in the at home management of dry eye, the heat needs to be near 40C or 104F consistently for 5 minutes.  A hot flannel will cool off too quickly to accomplish this.

Optometrists recommend a hot compress that can be warmed in the microwave, oven or even boiled in hot water to heat up for use.  There are even ones that are USB plugged to use.

Below are some of my favourites we carry in store but can be purchased online with our parter, Dry Eye Zone UK.

For microwave heating 
https://www.dryeyezone.co.uk/product-page/bruder-moist-heat-eye-compress

For those who don't have a microwave
https://www.dryeyezone.co.uk/product-page/tearrestore-starter-pack

For those high tech who want quick and easy hot compress
https://www.dryeyezone.co.uk/product-page/iflo-usb-heat-eye-compress