It’s a common complaint among middle age and older adults: dry eye. A condition where the eye either doesn’t produce enough tears or the tears drain away too quickly. There are so many products that are supposed to help those with dry eye, and I think I have tried them all.
I see my ophthalmologist every 4 months, and he put tiny plugs into a small hole in my lower eyelids to block my tears from draining too quickly. They help for a while till they either fall out or dissolve (depending on which type of plug he puts in). I also use the generic form of Restatis called Cyclosporine that is supposed to help the eyes make more tears. These remedies help my dry eyes somewhat.
In addition to the plugs and Cyclosporine drops, my eye doctor tells me to lie down for 10 minutes everyday with a warm, damp compress on my eyes. Because washcloths don’t stay warm for 10 minutes, more like 2 minutes if I’m lucky, I have sought out other devices that make bring wet heat to my eyes.
- For years, I used squishy gel packs that had to be warmed up either in a pot on the stove or in a microwave.
- Next, I found newfangled gel packs that had a metal disk inside among the gel that I would press and it would heat up. Those gel packs were quite good. They stayed hot for at least a half hour and felt comfortable on my face/eyes. But after they cooled down, the gel inside changed form and became hard. In order to use them again, they had to be heated in a pot with simmering water on the stove. I can’t tell you how many of the gel packs in pots on the stove ran out of water and burned up (as well as ruined my pot) because I forgot about them.
- I then found a mask with a timer that you can set. I really like it because it’s relatively comfortable, and I sometimes fall asleep with it on. The only downside is that it has to be plugged into an electrical outlet which is not always feasible or it requires an extension cord.
- I have a box of single use paper masks with ear loops that magically heat up when you take them out of the envelopes that they come in. They’re terrific because they stay warm for about a half hour and are very convenient, especially for travel. The downside, however, is that they are not recyclable and you can only use each one once before you have to throw it away. I don’t like the idea of them ending up in a landfill.
So, I have tried a number of solutions to my dry eye problem, most of which have downsides.
Recently, I saw an ad online for a device that you hold against your eye (one eye at a time) that you fill with distilled water.
Then you push a button to heat the water to form mist (there are 3 different levels of heat).
You push a second button to turn on the device, and it blows heated steam or as the box says “delicate mist” into your eye either in a steady stream or in segments with rests in between.
I read a lot of the reviews, and they all seemed so very positive. I caved and ordered one for about $30.
It took about 2 and a half weeks for the Heated Nano Eye Sprayer to arrive from China. There is no “brand name” on the box or the device, and the box has very little information. There was a small pamphlet in hard to understand English in mouse type which is definitely difficult for someone who has dry eye to be able to read. I got out my magnifying device and read it. There are also small schematics to identify the parts of the Eye Sprayer.
I filled the chamber with distilled water, chose the level of heat I wanted, and turned on the device. There is a wide silicone “cup” that you place against your eye socket. Since it’s “one size fits all”, the silicone cup is a little too wide for me, but I figured I could manage. The warm mist comes out of a hole in the middle of the silicone cup.
Try as I might, I find using the Heated Nano Eye Sprayer to be quite uncomfortable. The pamphlet says you can either open your eye or keep it closed. There’s no way I can open my eye because the device comes out too forcefully for me. And if the silicone cup isn’t firmly against my eye, water builds up and dribbles down my face. There’s no way I can stand using the device for 10 minutes per eye. I’m lucky if I can make it for a minute or two. Boo.
The Heated Nano Eye Sprayer seemed so promising, but it just doesn’t suit me. $30 down the drain because I won’t send it back to China.
There are similar devices, also from China, advertised online, but they all seem to look and perform about the same. The device works as advertised, but I just didn’t know in advance the strength with which the mist would come out of the blower.
Jeff often calls me “The Princess and the Pea”, and I guess that moniker fits the bill for me now, trying to adjust to using the eye device. You may recall that I have an issue spraying my face with essences, sunscreens, makeup setting spray etc., so why did I think this would be any different?
I have written about my experience with the Heated Nano Eye Sprayer in case you have dry eye and, like me, you are searching for something that would make your eyes feel less dry, itchy or painful. If you don’t have a problem spraying yourself in the face with mist, then the device may be worth a try for you. I can’t find the exact company I ordered from, but here’s another Heated Nano Eye Sprayer that looks exactly like it if you want to check it out or read more about it. I think the brand in the link from a company called Spocket may be less expensive at around $18 though they have blurred out the price.
Korres 30% Off Sale Alert
Because my 66 Korres loyalty points were about to expire, I decided to take advantage of the 30% off sale on Korres.com (the Greek skin, hair and body care natural brand) to repurchase the Korres 360• Eye-Lift Super Serum that I love.
The Eye-Lift Super Serum on sale is about $43 rather than the regular price of $62. I know I will eventually use it, so it was worth buying. In addition, I received 43 more points for a total of 109 points. With the 109 points, I chose 4 free full-size Korres skincare and body care products. They really do have the best loyalty program called Loyalty Circle that you must join (it’s free).
I don’t know how long the Korres sale lasts, but it may be worth a look.
