Some people grab a bag of frozen peas, but we hate to see food go to waste! You’ve likely also seen gel-filled cold compresses or ice packs at the drugstore that stay in your freezer or that you “break” to initiate the cooling effect. You can make a cold compress with just a towel and cold water or place ice cubes in a plastic bag wrapped with a towel. Take the quiz What is a Cold Eye Compress?Ī cold compress is something cold that you apply directly to the skin to reduce inflammation.¹ When it comes to your eyes, this cold compress is placed directly over your eyelids. Cold compresses are a great tool in your eyelid hygiene routine to keep dry eye symptoms low.You can make a cold compress at home or use a cold compress mask.The benefits of cold compresses for the eyes include both everyday comfort and immediate relief from sudden flare-ups due to eye conditions.

We’ll also share how to know when to use a cold compress vs a warm compress on your eyes. This article will explore the benefits of cold compresses on the eyes and the different types and common eye problems that warrant applying a cold compress for quick relief. A cold compress can also be a great thing to use every day to wake up and refresh your eyes. It can soothe and relieve symptoms of dry eye disease, eye allergies, and pink eye. Your eyes are no different! A cold compress on your eyes has many great benefits. What would feel good? A nice cold cloth on your forehead. What do you do? Run under cold water or grab an ice pack. We all know that applying cold to our bodies can help provide immediate relief from an injury or illness. Cold compresses are a great home remedy to keep your eyes feeling and looking fresh every day as part of an eye health and wellness plan. Placing a cold compress on your eyes delivers benefits beyond just immediate relief from inflammation. Ophthalmology residency: Wills Eye Hospital. Undergraduate: University of Pittsburgh Honors College What is good for the eyes should also strengthen the mind and fortify the body! I want dry eye patients to not only get their dry eyes under control, but to also enjoy good mental and physical health, and live a fulfilling life. Our sight is our most important sense, and it is intimately linked to our very being. Only then do we together start building a treatment plan that incorporates good eye hygiene with small, but impactful lifestyle changes. I listen for the struggles and cue in on their strengths, while picking up on their lifestyle. I carried this lesson with me as I started my career to become an ophthalmologist and ophthalmic surgeon.īecause of my personal journey and professional training, I believe dry eye treatment starts by listening to and empowering the patient. Not only did my eyes feel better, but I was overall healthier and happier! Turns out what is good for my eyes, was also good for my mind and body. In the beginning doing all this seemed impossible, but over time it became part of my usual routine. I ate a healthier diet focused on anti-inflammatory/antioxidants foods, and I bought a humidifier for my room. I started taking scheduled breaks from looking at a computer. I switched from monthly contact lenses to daily contact lenses. I started a consistent regimen of artificial tears and eyelid hygiene.

I knew that if I wanted to get ahead of my dry eyes, I needed to not only treat my eyes, but to also address my lifestyle. My symptoms would flare when it was windy, or when there was low humidity. I noticed that on days when I spent less time on the computer, my eyes felt better.

It was only when I realized that my dry eyes were linked to my lifestyle, environment and overall health did things start to make sense. I felt overwhelmed, frustrated and hopeless. It was preventing me from enjoying life, and getting in the way of my professional training. Dry eye disease was not only impacting my eyes, but also my emotional wellbeing. I tried a plethora of treatments and nothing seemed to work. I had to stop reading every 30 minutes because my eyes would start to burn and my vision would get blurry. In college, my dry eyes got so bad that I couldn’t wear contact lenses, because of a constant “foreign body sensation” when I had them in. I have struggled with dry eyes for several years from contact lens use, and from spending countless hours looking at computer screens. Jovi Boparai, MD Co-founder & CEO of CorneaCare Philadelphia, PA Bioĭry eye disease is tough! I get it.

Pink eye cold or hot compress