If you are suffering from dry gritty eyes and finding a lot of information regarding heated masks, it is advisable to enhance your personal knowledge before taking any step. If you are feeling sensitivity to light, seeing redness in eyes, feeling difficult to drive at night or experiencing blurred vision, consider them as the symptoms of dry eyes. These problems occur due to disruption in your tear film which has three layers including:- 

• Fatty oils
• Aqueous fluid
• Mucus

The purpose of these layers is to keep your eyes smooth and clear. The main reasons behind the damage of these layers are:- 

• Inflammation 
• Allergic reactions
• Hormone fluctuation 
• Autoimmune disease

Among the available solutions advertised on the internet, we recommend dry eye masks. Let’s have a brief introduction to these gadgets before elaborating on the feasibility factors. 

What is a dry eye mask?

Dry eye masks are electrically operated gadgets equipped with a heating element, remote control, power cord and rechargeable battery. At first glance, it will look like a cool gel mask but the functioning is totally opposite. Instead of cooling, it heats up your eyes area to stimulate fluids. Within 10-15 minutes of daily use, you will feel relief from gritty eyes. An electrically heated eye mask comes with a temperature controller. As per the comfort level, you can adjust the temperature levels and relax. 

Scientifically proven facts about the dry eye mask

According to an  AAO (American Academy of Ophthalmology) study report, dry eyes are most common in older adults. Dry eye disease affects over 4 million Americans over the age of 50 today. According to the National Eye Institute, approximately 16 million Americans of all ages have dry eyes. Dry eyes can be caused by a variety of factors, including age, high-dose medications, excessive laptop use, and so on.

As you may have guessed, dry eye syndrome occurs when the eyes’ moisture content is depleted. As a result, causing your eyes to dry out quickly can cause discomfort and, if not treated promptly, resulting in vision loss. Many doctors recommend wearing an eye mask while undergoing treatment for dry eyes. They believe it provides additional protection to your eye glands and speeds up recovery.

Is it a permanent solution

Unfortunately, there is not any permanent solution for curing dry eyes because our lifestyle is responsible for its frequent occurrence. You do, however, have several options for reducing symptoms and protecting your vision. Those with minor or early symptoms, on the other hand, can treat their condition by using the optometrist-recommended hot compressed eye mask. It’s also worth noting that dry eye syndrome is a natural part of the aging process.

You may find several remedial solutions including artificial tears, tear duct plugs, glasses and even immune responsive drugs to deal with dry eyes but they all work temporarily. Moreover, they are expensive and also involve risk factors. The heated eye mask also serves as a temporary solution but it is safer, effective and convenient to use.