Compress relieves dry, itchy eyes
DRY eye disease affects up to 70 per cent of us at some point in our lives.
Glands in our eyelids should produce a thin oil that keeps them moist.
This smooth oil can thicken to a buttery consistency, due to factors such as ageing, smoking, overuse of screens, and a diet that’s low in omega-3 fatty acids.
Regular use of a warm eyelid compress, along with gentle massage, has been shown to be an effective way to relieve dry eye disease. Amelia Mulley (pictured left), aged 30, has experienced dry eyes since she was at university.
She explains: ‘ Even when my eyes were closed, I could feel them scratching on the eyelids. It was irritating and made it hard to sleep.’ But regular use of a warm eye compress sold in Boots and recommended by TV’s Dr Hilary Jones has really helped her.
‘ It’s a relaxation ritual before bed that relieves my eyes and helps me sleep like a baby. It takes seconds to heat up and feels so soothing,’ she says.
‘Now I rarely need to use eyedrops and can wear eye make-up again.’
You simply microwave the eye compress for 30 seconds and then place it over the eyes for seven to ten minutes.
It retains heat long enough to melt the buttery oil so that it becomes liquid again.
Once the glands in the eyes are unblocked, healthy oil is produced.