Clinical product guide
Warm compresses and MGD support chosen by how patients heat them.
Warmth helps loosen thickened meibum so the glands can empty. Choose the mask by how the patient will warm it and how long it stays warm, then add nighttime protection if the lids do not close fully.
Quick answer
Daily heat that stays warm long enough.
Many patients with MGD start well on a microwave moist heat mask used once a day, such as the Optase Moist Heat Mask or the Bruder. Patients who want an exact temperature often prefer a USB mask, a self-heating mask covers travel, and a sleep shield or lid closure patch can help protect the surface overnight.
In short
- The glands sit on the inner lid, and the outer skin warms long before the inner lid does.
- A controlled study found a roughly 45°C compress needed at least 4 minutes to raise the inner lower lid to 40°C or above, so brief sessions may not be enough.
- Most patients do well on a microwave bead mask day to day, while USB masks hold a fixed temperature.
- Cold masks are for comfort and puffy lids. They do not warm the glands.
- When the lids do not fully close, a sleep shield or lid closure patch can help protect the surface overnight.
Six groups on the warm compress shelf.
Each group opens its category or a product, so masks and wholesale pricing are easy to compare.
Microwave moist heat masks
Reusable bead masks heated in the microwave. Beads such as Bruder MediBeads give off moisture as they warm, so no water is added.
USB and electric masks
Plug-in masks that keep a chosen temperature on a timer, without a microwave.
Self-heating disposables
One-time masks that start warming as soon as the pack is opened. Eyedration holds 104°F for 8 to 12 minutes.
Cold and hot or cold masks
Masks kept in the freezer for comfort. A few, Oasis Rest and Relief among them, can also be microwaved.
Sleep shields and moisture chambers
Worn over closed eyes through the night to keep warmth and humidity against the lids. Some designs fit around CPAP masks.
Lid closure patches
Single-use adhesive patches that hold the upper lid closed, worn for up to 12 hours and then thrown away.
Top sellers at wholesale.
Ordered by units sold, so the first cards are the masks practices come back for most.
Bruder Moist Heat Compress (both eyes)View product
Optase Moist Heat Mask (microwave)View product
EyeEco D.E.R.M. Mask with LinersView product
Oasis Rest and Relief Hot or Cold MaskView product
EyeEco Eyeseals 4.0 Sleep MaskView product
Eyedration Self-Heating Masks (Bruder)View product
Wizard Research USB Eye MaskView product
Bruder Single-Eye Moist Heat CompressView product
Optase Reusable Cooling MaskView product
MiBo Far Infrared USB Heating PadView product
EyeEco TranquilEyes XL SystemView product
Common patient patterns and where to start.
A first choice for the patterns seen most, then adjusted to the patient in the chair.
| Patient | Often helps | Reach for |
|---|---|---|
| MGD, needs daily heat at home | Reusable moist heat mask | Optase Moist Heat Mask, Bruder Moist Heat Eye Compress, EyeEco D.E.R.M. |
| Prefers a fixed temperature or has no microwave | Temperature-controlled USB mask | Wizard Research USB Heated Eye Mask, MiBo USB Heating Pad (98, 105 or 113°F) |
| Traveling, or trying heat for the first time | Self-heating disposable | Eyedration by Bruder |
| Puffy lids, comfort | Cold or hot and cold mask | Oasis Rest and Relief, Optase Cooling Mask |
| Nighttime exposure or CPAP | Sleep shield that holds humidity | EyeEco Eyeseals 4.0, EyeEco Onyix, EyeEco Quartz |
| Lids that do not fully close at night | Adhesive lid closure patch at bedtime | Nictavi lid closure patches |
Use these as a place to begin. Follow each mask's heating directions and check the temperature before it goes over the eyes.
Keep a short shelf and route the rest.
Stock the fast movers patients pick up at checkout and route everything else through RescueLink. Nothing slow sits on your shelf, and the refill comes back to your practice.
On your shelf
- A reusable moist heat mask. The Bruder compress sells the most.
- A second microwave mask, for example the Optase Moist Heat Mask
- A sleep shield or lid closure patch for nighttime exposure
Through RescueLink
- USB masks and goggle systems
- Self-heating masks and refills
- Replacement liners and heat packs on auto-ship
Home heat carries much of the load in MGD care. If the glands stay blocked even with steady daily heat, grade them and express in the office or move to an in-office thermal treatment, and keep the mask going at home. MGD is also worth looking for in contact lens wearers who report dryness late in the day.
Questions doctors ask
Is moist heat better than dry heat?
Either one delivers heat. The bigger factor is warming the inner lid and keeping it warm long enough. Bead masks such as the Bruder give off a little moisture as they heat, and many patients find that comfortable day to day.
How long should each heat session be?
Follow the directions for the mask. The Bruder is worn for 8 to 10 minutes and the Optase Moist Heat Mask for 10. A controlled study found that a roughly 45°C compress needed at least 4 minutes to bring the inner lower lid to 40°C or higher.
Should I recommend a microwave or a USB mask?
Microwave bead masks are reusable and easy. A USB mask holds a fixed temperature on a timer, which can suit patients who find microwave heating uneven.
Does a sleep mask count as a heat mask?
No. A sleep shield or moisture chamber keeps warmth and humidity against closed lids overnight to help protect the surface. It does not warm the glands.
Can a cold mask help MGD?
Not at the gland level. Cold masks are mostly for comfort and puffy lids, and heat is what helps loosen meibum.
Can daily heat take the place of expression?
Usually not. Heat at home is maintenance, and blocked glands often need expression or an in-office thermal treatment while the patient keeps up the mask.
References (1)
- Blackie CA, Solomon JD, Greiner JV, Holmes M, Korb DR. Inner eyelid surface temperature as a function of warm compress methodology. Optom Vis Sci. 2008;85(8):675-683. PubMed
Clinical review
Reviewed by the Medical Advisory Panel, a group of eye care professionals who focus on dry eye and ocular surface disease. Vision Rescue is a licensed pharmaceutical wholesale distributor.
Notes and disclosures
Written for licensed eye care professionals. This guide does not replace clinical diagnosis or treatment, and every decision stays with the treating provider. The groupings and patient-fit notes are a framework only. Use each product according to its current label.
Put the right masks on the shelf.
Order at wholesale, and use RescueLink to send patients the exact product between visits.