Ever since I became a contact lens wearer, I have dealt with chronic dry eyes. And I mean chronic. As you can imagine, that gritty feeling and itchy redness only get exacerbated by staring at a computer screen for hours a day.
After a recent visit with my eye doctor, where I expressed my dryness-related woes, he pulled up this electric eye mask on his computer, saying it would be an effective solution. And after weeks of being full-price, the mask is finally back on sale for 20% off.
As it fits your face, there’s greater contact with the heat of the mask, yet it’s still slimmer than previous renditions, making it more comfortable to wear.
In all transparency, this wasn’t the first time an eye professional told me that heat application could help with dryness. Yet, previous recommendations always felt cumbersome and time-consuming, requiring a microwave, wet washcloths or other laborious methods that don’t even stay hot.
The Aroma Season eye mask immediately caught my attention because it was electric and small. Filled with natural flax seeds, it’s a slightly compressive, completely dry remedy that molds into those awkward gaps around the eyes and nose.
According to the brand, this product uses a graphene infrared heating element to deeply penetrate your eyes, which can assist with dryness, styes, ocular migraines, stress relief, and more.
To find out exactly how heat works to improve eye dryness, I reached out to an eye specialist outside of my own healthcare provider. Dr. Anat Galor, a Miami, Florida-based ophthalmologist and clinical spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Galor said that in some individuals, abnormalities of the Meibomian glands — which are the glands in the eyelids that produce the oil component of tears — contribute to dry eye symptoms.
“One treatment that is used to improve Meibomian gland health is to apply heat to the glands to help the release of oil onto the surface of the eye,” Galor told HuffPost.
The five temperature settings can be controlled using the attached controller, which can also be used for scheduling timer functions, an important safety feature if you accidentally end up falling asleep with the mask on. According to my eye doctor, just 10 minutes a day can be all you need to help with dryness symptoms, though it can vary from person to person.
Although I have yet to try the Aroma Season mask out for myself (we have procrastination to thank for that) it had a whole host of promising Amazon reviews that supported my doctor’s recommendation and Galor’s explanation for why it helps with dry eyes. One reviewer claimed that this mask “saved them” and has been a long-lasting and effective solution for their chronic eye dryness and styes, while others say the electric design has been more beneficial compared to microwavable versions or gel-filled options.
Read more of these favorable words of endorsement ahead or grab this ophthalmologist-supported solution for yourself from the link above.
“If you suffer from dry eye, look at a computer screen all day or just need to relax your eyes this is a wonderful product. My optometrist recommended this exact device as he has one too and he told me he loved his ,so I decided to try it for myself. My optometrist was right. This makes my eyes feel great after using it. My Optometrist recommend that I use it about 15 minutes 1-2 times a day. I like that you can set the temperature to the level you like. It gets pretty warm to me, so I keep mine at the lower levels. I like the cloth covering that comes with it too. It is filled with flaxseeds, has infrared heat, three preset timers w/ auto shut off and high/medium/low temperatures. This is the perfect device for your Me Time.” — Henrietta
“Saved me. I wish I had known about this sooner! Found out about it after watching an eye dr. youtube video on dry eyes that explained the the research for dry eyes is the heat temp and 20 min timing. This is why the microwaveable ones do not work. They are too hot at first then don’t stay at the right temp long enough.
This has the set 20 min and heat timing! I have ocular rosacea and get styes as well as severe dry eye now. I use this every night before bed and now no longer get styes!” — HaloS“This product was recommended to me by a friend to help soothe my stressed and tired eyes!! I like the fact it has a timer and wide variety of temperature settings. It comes with a wrap that snaps around it to keep it clean. The mask itselff is soft and comfortable. There’s an elastic strap you can adjust for a comfortable fit as well. I wear it for about 20-30 minutes before bed…sooo relaxing.” — Pam N.
Want to feast your eyes on some other options? Don’t sleep on these highly-rated masks and compresses to soothe your peepers and help you catch some Zzz’s.
Amazon
A 16-pack of disposable, heated masks
If you’re looking for something to take on the go, or just hate having to keep track of more electric products that demand wires and outlets, check out this 16-pack of disposable heated, steam masks. They give light pressure, while self-heating (kind of like a disposable hand warmer) when you take it out of the pack. The brand says the mask uses heat to produce a soothing, steamy vapor from the moisture in the air, for extra relaxation. The ear straps fit comfortably around your head, making these great for airplanes and travel days. Find these in unscented, lavender and camomile.
Promising review: “I love these disposable heated eye masks!! I was diagnosed with dry eyes. I don’t like putting anything in my eyes, so instead of eye drops, I have been using these heated eye masks and they work Great for my dry eyes. Besides this, they are comforting and soothing after a long day from work! Plus, I can fall asleep with them on and my eyes feel refreshed in the morning! I keep these on stock! Lol!” — Amazon customer
Amazon
Or a set of 30 heated masks made with activated charcoal
Another super convenient, disposable option, this 30-pack of one-use, self-heating eye masks from CorneaCare Rest combines activated charcoal and hydrated minerals for extra soothing relief for eye dryness, redness, itching, pain and more. The masks stay hot for up to 30 minutes, offering gentle heat to your eyes, and giving the skin around your eyes a little TLC too. Users especially love these for how easy and portable they are, giving you the benefits of a heated compress with no microwave, water or outlet needed.
Promising review: “These self-heating eye masks are a total game changer. I suffer from dry, tired eyes, and these provide fast, soothing relief without any hassle. Just open the pouch and the warmth starts automatically—no microwave, no mess. They’re super comfortable, smell great, and perfect for relaxing at the end of the day or during travel. I love that they’re individually wrapped and easy to pack. Plus, they’re FSA/HSA eligible, which is a huge bonus. Highly recommend for anyone dealing with dry eyes or just needing a moment of rest!” — Cecilia S.
Amazon
A classic, microwavable mask from MyHalos
Listen, if it’s not broke, don’t fix it. And if you like the classic microwavable eye mask for heated relief, shoppers love this option from MyHalos that heats up in as little as 25 seconds. With a removable inner pouch, you can throw the super-soft exterior cover into the washing machine to keep it clean and adjust the strap for your perfect fit. Filled with small beads, the mask fits your face every time you use it, ensuring even heat over your eyes. According to our price trackers, it’s always $15.99, which is a solid price, sale or not.
Promising review: “I purchased one for my daughter and she loves it. I have very dry eyes so I decided to buy another one for myself. I love how soft and comfortable it feels on my eyes. Just the right temperature and stays warm. I especially like that I can remove the cover and wash it. Thank you for a great and very reasonable product.” — Michael Baldassaro
Amazon
Or, a heatless option with sealing cups https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FF8SJFTY?th=1
If heat’s not your thing, this adjustable mask is an elevated take on a classic sleep mask, offering a separate, raised, sealed section for each eye. At 0.6 inches deep, each pocket provides room for your eyes and eyelashes, locks in moisture, prevents your eyes from getting too dry and blocks out light, helping you sleep and rest. The pockets move on the strap, allowing you to find the best fit for your head and making it a super-shareable product with a loved one.
Promising review: “I have been a sleep mask user for a while and never have I used one this good. It fits my face perfectly! Total blackout!!! I can use my CPAP machine without drying my eyes out, now. Glorious! 😍” — L.McK
The Real Deal: We use deal trackers and commerce experience to sift through “fake” hike-and-drop deals and other deceptive sales tactics. Products will usually be rated at least 4 stars with a minimum 15% discount. (And when there’s an exception, we’ll tell you why.)
