How a Compression Eye Mask Benefits Your Wellness

A compression eye mask is an effective way to relieve tired and strained eyes. This is especially helpful for frequent travelers, busy parents, and night shift workers. It’s also great if you spend loads of time in front of a computer screen.

But there's more to a compression eye mask than meets the eye. Let's dig into the scientific details behind them.

Compression is nothing new in the field of health and wellness. People have been using it for ages to boost healing and improve physical performance. When it comes to the eyes, compression does wonders by increasing blood flow, decreasing swelling, and easing pressure.

Compression eye masks apply gentle pressure around your eyes and the nearby areas. As we mentioned earlier, this boosts blood circulation. And this means more oxygen and nutrients get to your eyes. This, in turn, helps ease eye strain and reduce puffiness.

But the pros of a compression eye mask don't end there. Many masks also offer heat and cold therapy, which provide more benefits. This brings us to warm and cold compression.

Warm compression and cold compression are two types of therapy that help ease discomfort and promote healing. A compression eye mask can use either technique.

A warm compress works its magic by dilating blood vessels and improving blood circulation. This can help ease pain and inflammation. According to WebMD, a warm compression eye mask can help to soothe symptoms of the following⁽¹⁾:

• Dry eye

• Eye spasms

• Conjunctivitis (a.k.a. pinkeye)

• Stye or chalazion

• Blepharitis

Meanwhile, a cold compress works by lowering the temperature where it's applied. It can help bring down swelling and give you pain relief by constricting blood vessels and numbing the affected area. A cold compression eye helps with the following conditions:

• Sinusitis

• Migraines

• Eye Itchiness

• Puffiness in the eye area

So, now you get the concepts of warm and cold compression. It’s time to dive into the benefits of cold and warm compression eye masks.

Benefits of Using a Cold Compression Eye Mask

In general, a cold compression eye mask can make tired eyes feel better. It refreshes the skin around your eye area. Plus, it helps ease symptoms of specific eye issues and health conditions.

When it comes to sinusitis, cool compression sleep masks help numb the pain. They also reduce the inflammation of your sinuses. And deliver relief to sinus points on your face, like the ones between your eyes or lower forehead.

A cold compression eye mask also helps lessen the pain and bring down the swelling linked to migraines. It targets areas on your face like the forehead and eyes.

Another benefit is it helps alleviate eye itchiness linked to allergies. And as you may know, scratching makes it worse. A cold compression sleep mask soothes the itchiness.

Finally, there’s eye puffiness. And whether it’s from lack of sleep, crying or aging, it can make anyone look worn out. A cold compression eye mask reduces puffiness and leaves the skin around your eyes feeling refreshed.

The Pros of Wearing a Warm Compression Eye Mask

A key feature of a warm compression eye mask is it provides moist heat. And it's the kind that's stable, comfy and goes deep into your skin. It can help with the conditions we listed above.

When you apply warm moist heat to your eyelids, it encourages the oil glands to produce more natural tears. This, in turn, helps to keep your eyes lubricated to relieve dryness.

A moist heat eye compress may also unclog blocked oil glands, which is a common cause of dry eyes and blepharitis. This helps restore the natural balance of your tear film, giving you relief from dry eyes.

Using a warm compression eye mask can help lessen discharge and loosen the crust of pinkeye. And also help a stye or chalazion rupture, allowing the pus to drain. Sounds unpleasant, huh? But really, it helps the infection heal.

Plus, a moist heat eye compress also helps you wind down before hitting the sack. This, in turn, helps you drift off faster and stay asleep longer. It eases muscle tension and relaxes your eyes.

Adding a Compression Eye Mask to Your Wellness Routine

It’s pretty simple and depends on what type of compression sleep mask you own.

Use a cooling mask in the morning to wake up your eyes and reduce puffiness. Use it anytime throughout the day to ease symptoms of sinusitis, migraines or itchiness from allergies. If you nap during the day, use one to refresh your eyes after.

Meanwhile, use a warm one throughout the day to relieve eye strain. And to relieve discomfort from dry eye, muscle spasms, pink eye, blepharitis and a stye or chalazion. Use a warm compression eye mask to relax before bedtime or naps.

How to Choose the Right Compression Eye Mask

When it comes to picking your compression eye mask, it all boils down to your specific needs and preferences. Here are a couple of factors to consider:

First, consider the type of compression eye mask. Do you prefer one with warm compression or cold compression?

Remember that a warm compression eye mask helps with dry eyes, blepharitis, muscle spasms, pinkeye and a stye or chalazion. On the other hand, a cold compression eye mask is ideal for sinusitis, migraines, eye itchiness and puffiness.

Second, consider comfort and fit. A good compression eye mask should fit your face and head. But it should do so in such a way that you feel comfy and evenly distributed pressure.

Look for a mask with adjustable straps and detachable heated or cooling eye cups for a custom fit.

Third, consider the material. Look for a compression eye mask designed with soft, breathable, and hypoallergenic material. You want it to be as comfy as possible without causing skin allergies or irritation.

Finally, consider the ease of use and care. A good compression sleep mask should be easy to use, clean and maintain. Look for a mask with removable eye cups for easy cleaning. And a head strap that’s 100% machine washable.

Manta Sleep Compression Eye Masks

If you're looking to level up your self-care routine and give your tired eyes some much-deserved TLC, the right compression eye mask is key.

Why not consider Manta Sleep's compression sleep masks? We’re not ashamed to say they offer the ultimate combination of comfort and functionality.

Our version of the best heated eye mask uses moist heat to deliver relief and relaxation in just 3 to 5 minutes. Its steamy secret lies in its warming eye cups.

Manta STEAM Sleep Mask Customer Reviews:

"I purchased this mask when I was desperately looking for relief from dry eyes that occurred after I had Lasik surgery. I was using the artificial tears 6+ times per day and was still having issues with dry eye pain, like the gritty feeling, and blurred vision due to dry eyes. After using this mask there is a noticeable difference in the moisture of my eyes. I tried one day not using it and was back to the drops 6 times that day. Also, I suffer from chronic migraines and headaches and the heat is very relaxing at the end of the day when work stress has me tense and I've been staring at a computer all day. 10/10 would buy again."

— Caitlin C.

Manta COOL Sleep Mask

Our cool compression eye mask’s head strap is similar to the Manta STEAM in design. But the eye cups are filled with cooling beads that stay cold for the doctor-recommended 10 minutes.

Manta COOL Sleep Mask Customer Reviews:

"My husband bought me the cooling eyes manta mask for Christmas! On Christmas Day our 5 year old autistic son got so sick and ended up in the ER from vomiting blood and being dehydrated. Later that night at home he spiked a 105 fever and had a horrible migraine where he was crying and grabbing his eyes. I grabbed the mask and put it on him and it instantly calmed him down. The weight of the mask and the cooling soothed his migraine and sensory issues right away and also helped bring the fever down from that dangerous level. I’ve never been so thankful for a Christmas gift that came in handy so quickly. Thank you for such a great product and for helping me care for our son when he was miserable. I guess I’ll have to get him his own mask since he will probably continue to steal mine 😉"

— Natalie W.

To sum it up, a compression eye mask doesn’t just help you sleep better. Whether it's warm or cold compression, it can help ease eye discomfort caused by various health conditions. And give your tired eyes the relief they desperately need.

Remember, your eyes are the windows to your soul and they deserve the best care. So, why not treat them to a cold or warm compression eye mask? In fact, why not try both so you get the best of both worlds? It's a small investment with huge returns in terms of health, wellness, and quality of life.

Let us know how your warm or cold compression eye mask experience goes. Drop a comment below.

Sources:  

(1) “Could a Warm Compress Help My Eyes?” WebMD, www.webmd.com/eye-health/eyes-warm-compress. Accessed 24 July 2023.