Eyelid hygiene, including the use of heat, is crucial for managing dry eye because it helps maintain the health of the meibomian glands, which play a key role in producing the oily layer of the tear film. These glands can malfunction due to chronic dry eye, abnormal blinking, inflammation, hormones, and down regulation from the nervous system.
Warm compresses help to soften and express the oils from these glands, preventing blockages and improving tear stability.
*NOTE: may be contraindicated for patients with supraorbital, supratrochlear, or occipital neuralgia
