Heated Dry Eye Mask

[Beaudidily]

I'm wondering if its safe to use a heated eye mask for dry eye after trabulectomy surgery? I had the op 5 months ago. I had been using a microwave mask before the trab but its heavy on the eye so thought a USB type heated lightweight mask might be better. I'm suffering with very irritated eyes especially in this cold weather. If any of you guys can answer this for me I would be very grateful. I obviously don't want to risk my bleb which is doing the job very well.

[Ritualhazard]

good question! I was wondering that myself.

[Beaudidily in reply to Ritualhazard]

If you see your consultant before I see mine perhaps you could ask the question .... and let me know.

[Longwalks3]

I have had many surgeries on both eyes and my consultant is happy for me to use a heated eye mask to help with dry eye. I use the type that goes in the microwave. If you are worried however, you should ask your consultant's advice.

[Beaudidily in reply to Longwalks3]

Thank you Long Walks I have one but it rests heavily on my eyes so was a little worried about that.

[frankthebank in reply to Beaudidily]

Hi, If you are worried about it being heavy, have you thought about trying something light, like a warm flannel until you are able to ask the specialist.

[Helen_GlaucomaUK Administrator]

It would be best to check with your eye specialist and you are very sensible to do this. I can't give you an exact answer and they know how well everything is functioning since your operation.

[AlfredV]

I don't know the official answer although I regularly use a dry eye mask (although I have more joy chilling it than heating it). I no longer do the eye massages afterwards though as I don't want to risk damaging my blebs.

[Astilbe]

I have had the same question, having had a Presserflo shunt in one eye and cataract op, and a trab in the other eye. I have asked this question a couple of times at the eye clinic.

I was told that a heated eye mask was fine to use and wouldn't affect my blebs. I have moebian gland disfunction so was told to massage my eyelids afterwards. I am very careful with doing this, just massaging the eyelids where the lashes are and not my whole eyelid since I have low lying blebs in both eyes.

The trouble with a warm flannel is that it doesn't stay warm for long enough to hopefully loosen the oil in the meobian glands.

[Beaudidily]

Thank you so much for this reply. Thats confirmed everything I had hoped for. I have bought an eye doctor microwavable heat mask as I find they get to a higher temperature. I tried a USB type one but it barely got warm on a high setting. The eye doctor mask came with a couple of trial sterile eye wipes and they seem really good. The only other thing I'm a bit concerned about is hygiene as the eye nurse told me the main thing to watch out for is infection. My mask has a removable washable sleeve but I'm wondering if I have to wash it after every use and is using washing powder ok? The other thing I thought might work would be to put a tissue between the eye and the mask and wash the sleeve every week maybe. What do you do? The last thing anyone wants is an infected bleb!!