1.Principle of Steam Eye Masks

Steam eye masks are mainly composed of non-woven fabric and a heating element. The heating principle is that the self-heating layer in the middle, which is made up of iron powder, undergoes an oxidation reaction when it comes into contact with oxygen. There is also a cotton-soft layer inside the steam eye mask, which contains moisture. When the heating layer starts to release heat, the moisture in the cotton-soft layer is heated and released, forming water vapor at around 40℃.

2.Hazards of Sleeping with a Steam Eye Mask

The key to hot compress lies in controlling the temperature and duration. Although the temperature of a steam eye mask is not high, wearing it for too long may cause thermal burns on the surface of the eyes. Sleeping with a steam eye mask on may lead to the mask shifting during sleep, exerting unnecessary pressure on the eyeballs and affecting blood circulation. If the material of the steam eye mask has poor breathability, wearing it for a long time may cause local moisture in the eyes, increasing the risk of bacterial growth. In addition, prolonged use of steam eye masks may also lead to a decline in vision. The cornea is the transparent tissue on the outermost layer of the eyeball. Once it is burned, the passage of light will be obstructed, resulting in blurred vision. However, the corneal epithelium has the ability to regenerate. If repair eye drops or gels are used promptly after a burn, vision usually can be restored. Therefore, it is recommended that the use of steam eye masks be limited to about 15 minutes, with a maximum of no more than 20 minutes.

3. Situations Unsuitable for Using Steam Eye Masks

Although steam eye masks are convenient and effective, they are not suitable for use in the following circumstances:

– If there is makeup around the eyes. Residual makeup can easily cause eye infections.

– If wearing contact lenses or colored contact lenses. Wearing contact lenses or colored contact lenses already increases the risk of inflammation and can lead to keratitis or conjunctivitis. Applying heat on top of this can cause the liquid secreted from the meibomian glands to contaminate the eyelids, leading to eye infections.

– If there is an infection around the eyes. People with mite infections around the eyes, acne on the eyelid skin, or eye skin infections may experience aggravated local inflammation after using steam eye masks.