Chart comparing brands, sizes and ingredients, grouped by general cleansing, tea tree oil, hypochlorous, etc.

Ingredient guide for lid hygiene products

What to think about and talk to your doctor about before purchasing compresses and lid scrubs. How to compare warm compress features.

<h2 id="isPasted" style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 1.4; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; text-align: left;">Do I&#xA0;actually need lid care products?</h2><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 1.4; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Make sure you have a solid reason before you start trying these types of products. Don&apos;t buy them just because they are more &quot;stuff&quot; to try.</p><h3 style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 1.4; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;" id="medical-use">Medical use?</h3><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 1.4; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">*If* you have blepharitis / meibomian gland dysfunction, it&apos;s quite <em>possible</em> you could benefit from improved eyelid hygiene, specialty eyelid care products and warm compresses. These conditions involve chronic inflammation of the oil-producing glands in your eyelids. But please bear in mind the following:</p><ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"><li>Diagnosis first. Don&apos;t buy stuff out of desperation, and don&apos;t treat conditions you haven&apos;t been diagnosed with just because you read about them on the internet.</li><li>Ask your doctor to explain to you the full range of treatment options as well as the best daily maintenance and prevention steps you can take.</li><li>If your doctor wants you to use a lid hygiene product, ask for a specific recommendation and for the rationale behind the recommendation.</li><li>Less is more. Eyelids are tender things! Too much heat and too much scrubbing may make you worse, not better! Ask for specific advice on method, duration and frequency of any self treatments.</li></ul><h3 style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 1.4; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;" id="palliative-use-comfort">Palliative use (comfort)?</h3><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 1.4; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"><strong>COLD</strong> compresses help with <strong>pain, burning, redness</strong> and <strong>inflammation</strong>. This is solely a comfort measure any patient can employ at any time.</p><h3 style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 1.4; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;" id="warm-compresses-and-the-confusion-factor">Warm compresses and the confusion factor</h3><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 1.4; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"><strong>WARM</strong> compresses (note: not hot!) may or may not make you feel better in any immediate sense, but they are often prescribed as a <em>therapeutic treatment</em> for blepharitis/MGD. Warm compresses, properly done, can raise the temperature in the eyelids enough to soften thick, stiff oil (meibum) in the oil glands and allow it to be pressed out with gentle lid massage, which can help keep your oil glands healthier, secreting the oil that can help prevent your tears from evaporating too fast. That is why this is such an important maintenance tool, whether or not it seems to help &quot;in the moment&quot;.</p><h2 style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 1.4; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;" id="tips-for-selectinga-lid-hygiene-product">Tips for selecting&#xA0;a lid hygiene product</h2><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 1.4; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">As you can see, there are many! And there are many more than we sell. In addition to all of the over-the-counter products, there are some sold on prescription only (or at least primarily so) such as Avenova or Cliradex.</p><ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"><li>Doctor&apos;s advice: Get what your doctor recommended if at all possible.</li><li>Tea tree oil? Tea tree oil is al the rage these days... especially for blepharitis stemming from an overpopulation of demodex mites. However, many people find that too much tea tree oil stings too much! It may take some trial and error to find one gentle enough for you that&apos;s strong enough to do what you need.</li><li>Pads, foam, spray, gel? The form may make a difference. Pre-moistened wipes made of artificial paper are convenient, but for some are too rough. Foams are gentle, but some have ingredients that may be too harsh. Sprays may be&#xA0;practical. Oasis has (at least as of this writing) the only gel form lid hygiene product on the market that I know of.</li></ul><h2 style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 1.4; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;" id="tips-for-selectinga-warm-compress">Tips for selecting&#xA0;a warm compress</h2><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 1.4; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Start with your doctor&apos;s requirements. Typically, the point of a warm compress is to raise the temperature in your meibomian glands by a certain amount and for a certain duration; your doctor may&#xA0;or may not&#xA0;provide further specifics, such as:</p><ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"><li><strong>Moist or dry?</strong> Some doctors feel that moist heat is necessary, others are only concerned with the temperature and duration. Tranquileyes is the best-known moist compress and has the advantage that the goggle can be used, without the heat packs, for overnight dry eye protection. Rice baggies are a great choice for dry compresses, but need replacing more often.</li><li><strong>Washable?</strong> Bead-filled compresses such as the Oasis mask are probably the simplest to wash. Tranquileyes can all be washed easily except the surrounding foam on the goggle which will come off prematurely if immersed. Rice baggies have a washable cover, but the baggy itself needs to be kept dry.</li><li><strong>Microwavable?</strong> Microwavable compresses are convenient BUT always carry the danger of overheating, which can result in serious burns. Tranquileyes with Instants is a good self-heating compress. There are one of two USB powered compresses on the market now, but do your research carefully about safety issues. Some people use hand warmers.</li><li><strong>Budget?</strong> Tranquileyes XL is the most luxurious and therefore the most expensive. You can make your own rice baggies for practically nothing. Oasis and Bruder and economical and practical choices.&#xA0;</li></ul><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 1.4; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Whatever you use, please remember the following tips:</p><ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"><li>SAFETY FIRST: Do not overheat.</li><li>LESS IS MORE: Too much heat and too often&#xA0;may cause more lid irritation, redness and inflammation.</li><li>KEEP IT CLEAN.</li><li>REPLACE THEM REGULARLY.</li></ul><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 1.4; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">&#xA0;</p>

Lid care product selection tips

Reference information for rice baggy users (more details than on product listing)

<h3 id="isPasted" style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 1.4; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Kit contents</h3><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"><ul><li>Rice Baggy</li><li>Slipcover</li><li>Travel Sack&#xA0;</li></ul></div><h3 style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 1.4; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;" id="instructions">Instructions</h3><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"><ol><li>Place the Rice Baggy (without the slipcover) in the microwave. Heating time varies greatly depending on your microwave &#x2013; anywhere from 25 seconds to over a minute. You will have to experiment with this a bit to determine how long is the optimal time to heat your Rice Baggy. We suggest starting at about 30-35 seconds (less for the Mini).&#xA0;</li><li>Remove Rice Baggy and test by holding it against the inside of your wrist, then against your lids. It should be warm but not hot. DO NOT OVERHEAT.&#xA0;</li><li>Place it inside the slipcover, sit or lie down and place it over your eyes. Leave in place for 5 to 10 minutes, or longer if desired or as directed by your doctor.&#xA0;</li><li>Some people like to do lid massage afterwards in order to express meibum. Please do this only if you have instructions and a demonstration from your doctor.&#xA0;</li></ol></div><h3 style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 1.4; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;" id="variationstips">Variations/Tips</h3><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"><ul><li>An ideal time for a compress is just before bed.&#xA0;</li><li>For moister heat, place a glass of water in the microwave next to it.&#xA0;</li><li>For a soothing cool compress on a &#x2018;bad eye day&#x2019;, try freezing your Rice Baggy.&#xA0;</li><li>Got an idea? Please share your Rice Baggy ideas with us via a product review at &#x2028;dryeyeshop.com or in our forums at <a href="http://www.forum.dryeyezone.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">DryEyeTalk</a>. &#x2028;Cleaning&#xA0;</li><li>Your rice baggy slipcover can be hand washed or machine washed in cold water. To &#x2028;avoid shrinkage do not machine dry.&#xA0;</li><li>Rice getting old and musty? You can purchase a replacement baggy in the Dry Eye &#x2028;Shop, or replace the rice yourself by taking out the end seam, emptying it, washing and drying it, refilling with rice (remember not to pack it! Must be loose!) and sewing it back up.&#xA0;</li></ul></div><h3 style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 1.4; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;" id="warnings">&#x2028;WARNINGS&#xA0;</h3><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"><ul><li>Always consult your eye doctor about the appropriate use of heat on your eyes, especially if you suffer from chronic dry eye, meibomian gland dysfunction, blepharitis, ocular rosacea or related conditions.&#xA0;</li><li><strong>Do not overheat a rice baggy</strong>. This poses serious risk of burning eyelids and even the corneas. Always test carefully. Even if not hot enough to cause burning, too much heat is counterproductive as it will irritate the lids.&#xA0;</li><li>Do not overuse a rice baggy. Consult your doctor about frequency and duration of use.</li><li>Some users experience blurred vision after a compress. This may be related to the &#x2028;weight of the rice pressing on the cornea and temporarily changing its refraction. It &#x2028;may last up to an hour or two.&#xA0;</li><li>If you experience any unpleasant effects from a warm compress, please discontinue &#x2028;immediately and consult your doctor.&#xA0;</li></ul></div>

About eyelid care products

Ingredient guide for lid hygiene products

Lid care product selection tips

Rice baggy detailed instructions for use