Dry eye glasses, also known as moisture chamber glasses, are, in my opinion, the simplest, most consistently effective, and safest way to give you control over pain and discomfort from ocular surface diseases (dry eye). While they don't work equally for everyone, they do bring some level of relief to most, and for many people they make all the difference to their quality of life.
Even people who do not, according to their doctor, have severe clinical signs of disease may experience a great deal of pain - from burning, stinging, and irritation to sharp pain to aching to acute light sensitivity. If you can't see comfortably, that's a serious problem.
Medical treatments are designed to treat disease, but dry eye treatments frequently do not provide enough symptom relief. That's why things like dry eye glasses are so important: giving relief, without interfering with medical treatments. There is also some scientific evidence that they help medically as well.
A common feature of dry eye disease (ocular surface disease) is exquisitely sensitive corneal nerves.
So, the first and most important function of dry eye glasses is simply insulating your eyes from environmental stimulus. That means protection from wind, vents, heat, air conditioning, and even the minimal air movement you experience when you walk across the room.
If you've ever struggled walking into a big box store, or driving with the air conditioning on, or sitting under a vent at work, or walking your dog on a windy day, or just sitting and reading in your apartment with forced-air heat, you can understand what I'm talking about. Dry eye glasses eliminate all these assaults on the nerves.
When you enclose the eyes in a 'moisture chamber', even though it is not airtight, it allows for humidity to build in the space in front of your eyes. But, you say, that's why I use a humidifier! Well, if you're in a dry climate or have low indoor humidity, that humidifier may be very important. It's also blowing air around. Dry eye glasses make a nice humid chamber exactly where you want it: in front of your eyes.
Of course not. Nothing works for everyone. Everything works for someone.
But... I believe, and the data coming from the Dry Eye Foundation's community survey supports this idea, that dry eye glasses work for more people than almost anything else.
With any Ziena style, you'll need a frame that is a good width and size for you, but for the dry eye benefits, you also a shield that matches your facial contours as closely as possible. For women, the Kai (for smaller fits) and the Verona (for wider fits) are the most successful frames. For men, Nereus is a fairly versatile fit. - You do not need a "skin tight" fit from the silicone shield - in fact, it will increase the likelihood of fogging. The goal is protection and incremental improvement.
It's not possible to know for sure which style will fit best without trying them on. So consider purchasing two or more pairs and returning poor fits (but please respect the return policy).
Fit can be improved with a strap for those who need it, or special ear grips to pull the shield closer to the face more discreetly.
What’s special about the KAI: I feel very grateful for the Kai. As a badly needed small frame, it has opened the door to many people who have struggled for years to get well fitting dry eye glasses. The KAI and MARINA styles together are helping our community reach the tipping point where more of us are becoming more ready to embrace dry eye glasses as a very important eye pain management concept.
First things first. Get a frame that you are sure fits you properly. Then take it to your local optician to add Rx lenses with all the bells and whistles you might need.
Just need readers? Get your optician to put in reading lenses or a progressive with no script in the upper part of the lens. Your optician can help you find the most practical approach for you.
Don't forget to tell the optician why you're wearing these glasses and how important they are to you. We need the medical professional to become more aware of our community's needs.
Small - Medium
To find the right size and fit, it is important to consider the curvature of your eyebrow bone & cheek bone. The various facial anatomies are the main factors to be considered on how the eyecup will work to offer a complete seal around the orbit of your eyes. Traditional sizing or fitting of a fashion frame does not necessarily pertain.