Can Warm Compresses Help Dry Eyes?

If you suffer from dry eyes, you know that dry, itchy or irritated sensations can have a negative impact on daily life. Regardless of how long dry eye symptoms have been present, you’ve likely been guided toward treatment options that include a warm compress. 

The warm compress has been a tried and true method for treating dry eyes for decades. But why? What makes the warm compress for dry eyes such an evergreen remedy?

What Causes Dry Eyes?

Before we can understand why warm compresses are so effective, we need to understand what causes dry eyes and Dry Eye Disease (DED). Many who suffer from dry eyes attribute their condition to dehydration, a lack of normal tear production, or even increased screen time, which can strain the eyes.  But the most common cause of dry eyes by far is a problem with glands that line our eyelids, called the meibomian glands.  Meibomian glands produce the oil that coats your eyes’ tear fluid to help prevent it from evaporating too quickly.

These two conditions introduce two types of Dry Eye Disease – the most common is known as “evaporative dry eye disease” and the rarer aqueous deficient dry eye disease. Over 85% of all dry eye cases are “evaporative”, caused by a problem with the meibomian glands called Meibomian Gland Dysfunction.  While a warm compress can provide soothing temporary relief of symptoms of both types of DED, the treatment actually works to address the underlying cause of MGD and, over time, help the eyes retain more of their natural tear fluids.

Warm Compresses for Dry Eyes – Are they Effective?

Doctors recommend warm compresses for dry eye relief simply because the application works. Dry Eye Disease related to MGD is typically caused when the glands become blocked or inflamed which traps the oil (meibum). Over time, the trapped oil congeals into a thick paste with the consistency of cooking shortening. A warm compress for the eyes provides heat that can break down blockages and melt the solidified oil to enable it to flow through the Meibomian glands to help you retain your natural tears. Heat efficiently melts the solidified meibum from the paste-like consistency. However, the combination of moisture and heat has been clinically proven to be a more efficient way to melt the meibum. The moisture also peripherally supports the skin surrounding the eyes by moisturizing the skin of the eyelids and other areas of skin covered by the compress. 

The combination of heat and moisture delivers quick comfort and treats the cause of dry or irritated eyes.  

Warm Compress for the Eyes – How EverTears^® Steps Up 

Recently, the warm compress has evolved from a damp cloth or microwaveable heating pad that is inconvenient to activate and use. In place of the traditional compress is something far more intuitive and practical. EverTears^® is an FDA-registered warm compress that is small enough to travel with, but sophisticated enough to heat instantly. Evertears^® is a hygienic pad that provides moisture and heat to remove blockages and debris from the eyes. 

EverTears^® advances generic warm compresses for dry eyes. The convenience eliminates the challenging transportation of compresses and cloth alternatives. EverTears^® also provides a longer-lasting treatment or prevention of dry eyes than the over-abundance of “artificial tears” options. Upgrading the traditional warm compresses doesn’t just provide a one-stop solution for relief, but helps prevent recurring dry eye symptoms with convenience. Upgrade from the warm compress to the tested and clinically-proven EverTears^® by ThermaMEDx for a comprehensive treatment option for dry eyes.