Q: I have had a bad case of blepharitis for many years. It looks like pimples on my eyelids. My doctor prescribed eyedrops for dry eyes, an antibiotic that merely clogs up the sebaceous glands even worse, and hot compresses.
The problem is that I am supposed to keep a hot compress on the eyes for anywhere from three to 15 minutes. It’s impossible to keep a washcloth or a gauze pad hot for more than about a minute.
I discovered a great solution: Using a hand warmer works like a champ. This is a packet that one shakes to activate and then can stuff in a glove to keep one’s hands warm in winter. Once the hand warmer reaches target temperature, it stays warm for hours. It’s hot enough to provide relief but not so hot that it hurts the eyes. This way I don’t need to constantly replenish the wet compress with hot water or warm it in the microwave.
A: Thank you for sharing this intriguing idea. Another option for people with dry eyes is Dry Eye Relief Mask (DERM). This moist-heat compress contains tiny silica beads that can be warmed in the microwave. It, too, lasts more than a minute and may prove an alternative to the hand warmer. There is more information at www.eyeco.com.
Heat can help make the oils in the meibomian glands of the eyelids less thick. This in turn can help ease blepharitis and dry eye syndrome.
• article by Jo and Teresa Graedon
• copyright The Seattle Times