Warm compresses are widely accepted home treatments for many mild medical conditions. They’re especially popular and useful for eye conditions.
A warm compress is a longtime, traditional home remedy for many mild ailments. Compresses are also recommended by doctors and medical professionals for managing certain conditions.
Compresses involve a clean cloth soaked in warm water. The warm cloth is then applied and compressed on the affected site.
Heat and moisture may help alleviate pain, inflammation, and other issues.
Warm compresses may help mild eye issues too.
Using a warm compress for the eye is simple.
Simply apply it straight to your closed eye. You can apply it to both eyes at once if the cloth is large enough.
Hold it there for as long as it improves comfort and symptoms. Re-soak it in warm water and reapply as often necessary.
A 2022 review of research notes that towels reheated every 2 minutes were most effective at increasing eyelid temperature.
Compresses have been a popular home remedy for many reasons. For the eye, warm compresses can improve circulation, soothe inflammation, and unclog swollen eyelids. Cold compresses can help with swelling.
For these reasons, compresses can be very helpful for the following eye conditions:
Styes
A warm compress is a common approach to treating a stye. It may also be called a hordeolum or chalazion.
Styes occur when a localized part of the eyelid becomes swollen, either due to gland blockage or infection.
Warm compresses are a
Blepharitis
Eyelids can become inflamed or swollen for other reasons too. The swelling of the eyelids is referred to as blepharitis.
According to a small 2019 study, warm compresses helped relieve blepharitis symptoms in adults.
Swollen eyes
Though styes and blepharitis involve swollen eyelids, swollen eyes or eyelids may occur for other reasons. Warm compresses can help these symptoms, too.
Common causes for swollen eyes may include:
Rarer causes include Graves’ disease or eye cancer.
For injuries, allergies, and bug bites, try a cold compress. For orbital cellulitis, oral antibiotics are needed to reduce symptoms.
Dry eyes
Warm compresses may help with dry eyes. The heat from the compress can help glands that produce tears work better.
Warm compresses are a common approach to dry eye-related conditions, including meibomian gland dysfunction. They can provide relief, but they cannot cure dry eye conditions.
Black eye
Black eye, also called periorbital hematoma, is caused by trauma to the eye. It causes bruising and subcutaneous (under the skin) bleeding, pain, inflammation, and discoloration around the eye.
For immediate swelling, use a cold compress. Once the primary swelling has gone down a few days later, you can use a warm compress to help with the pain.
If using a compress isn’t easy enough, making one at home is even simpler.
To start, warm water in a clean pot on a stovetop. You can also run warm water from your tap.
Soak a clean cloth in water at the ideal temperature. Right between warm and comfortably hot is recommended.
Be careful not to make the water too hot because the skin around the eyes is quite sensitive.
Next, apply the compress to the closed eye. Reheating is key to receiving the maximum benefits.
We’ve also written a guide about cold compresses and the steps to make your own.
Compresses are widely accepted home treatments for many mild medical conditions. They’re especially popular and useful for eye issues.
Doctors may recommend compresses for easing uncomfortable eye symptoms at home. Warm compresses are best for styes, dry eye syndrome, and blepharitis.
For pink eye, black eye, infections, swelling, and allergies, try a cold compress.
Compresses don’t cure any of these conditions. Rather, compresses can improve mild symptoms like inflammation, pain, itchiness, dryness, or swelling.
Make sure to visit a doctor if your symptoms worsen, your vision becomes blurry, or you experience pain around your eyes.