Do you often get headaches just around or behind your eyes?
Or, do you suffer from continually dry eyes?
Does your vision sometimes become blurry or unfocused, and do you experience dark circles under your eyes?
These eye symptoms and more are common because of the demand we put on our eyes throughout the day and night.
If you stare at a computer screen for hours a day, your ocular muscles become taught from being firmly held in the same position.
The stiffness and lack of relaxation can restrict blood flow in the area and result in dark circles, crow’s eye, eye fatigue, blurred vision and headaches.
In this article, we’ll look at the best eye massagers that can help with all these symptoms and more.
If your eyes could use some tender loving care, pay attention, because these gadgets can do a lot more for your eye health than what you could achieve massaging yourself on your own.
How do Eye Massagers Work?
The concept of a device that massages your eye may seem dangerous at first.
However, these technologies are carefully crafted and designed to massage around your eyes, and never on them.
Even then, the massage is very gentle, and utilizes water, air and other soft substances to achieve a soft compression.
Some eye massagers apply heat to your eye area as they massage, so if you’ve ever benefited from a warm compress over your eyes in the morning to help get the blood flowing, then this is even better.
Most eye massagers are placed over your eyes like goggles, and some go over your head like a helmet.
They’re easy to travel with, and they tend to be durable gadgets that last you a long time.
With the value they bring to your eyes every time you use them, they can be a very worthwhile investment, and a great gift.
Eye massagers can especially benefit anyone whose work requires a lot of screen time, as well as anyone who works long hours or deals with a lot of stress.
Benefits of Using an Eye Massager
Massaging the eyes has been around since long before the invention of eye massagers.
Chances are, you’ve probably massaged around your own eyes at some point, just intuitively.
That’s because the benefits of eye massage are so instant, as the trigger points around your eyes can relieve tension throughout your entire head and in your sinus passageways.
Here are the benefits of releasing trigger points around your eyes through eye massage:
Relaxation
Like any massage, a good eye massager can help you recover from the stress of your day by lowering levels of stress hormones and causing muscles to relax.
Eye massages also stimulate the flow of blood in your brain, which can improve your mood.
Relief from Dry Eye
Dry eye happens when your tear glands aren’t producing enough lubrication, which is often caused by inflammation of the edge, or “waterline,” of your eyelids.
Regular eye massages can help reduce inflammation. By improving the flow of blood, they can potentially promote balance in the lubrication function of your eyes.
Releasing Eye Strain
The strain you feel after long hours in front of a computer screen isn’t necessarily caused by the light you’re taking in, but by the tension created in your optical muscles.
When they’re required to hold one position for hours a day as you focus on the screen, they become taut from the lack of release.
Massaging around your eyes helps release the tension and relax strained eyes.
Reducing Dark Circles and Crow’s Feet
By stimulating blood flow around your eyes, eye massagers can even improve their appearance.
The dark circles and wrinkles you get around your eyes can be caused by tension, which causes your blood vessels to constrict and reduce the flow of blood.
Massaging around your eyes increases the flow of blood and relaxes ocular muscles so that tissues can repair and return to homeostasis.
This results in youthful and healthy-looking eyes.
Headache Relief
Do you naturally want to massage your temples or around your eyebrows when you have a headache?
That’s because there are several trigger points around your eyes that can hold tension and cause headaches.
Eye massagers are helpful for people with chronic tension headaches, because they allow you to release the tension and increase blood flow.
Maintaining Your Vision
The flow of blood in and around your eyes is linked to the quality of your vision.
An eye massager can help keep your eyes healthy and preserve your vision, reducing blurry vision or unfocused vision that occurs with fatigue or stress.
Types of Eye Massagers
There are different sorts of eye massage devices.
Here’s a general overview of what to expect when you scan the market:
Heat Eye Massagers
Some eye massagers emit heat to lower inflammation, reduce pain and increase the flow of blood.
This can especially help with problems like dark circles, blurry vision and headaches, which are all linked to reduced circulation.
Infrared Eye Massagers
Infrared eye massagers don’t emit heat, but they still improve circulation through infrared waves.
Infrared technology is used these days in many beauty-enhancing gadgets for the benefits it provides for your skin.
An infrared eye massager is ideal for people focused on improving both the health and appearance of their eyes.
Eye Mask Massagers
Many eye massagers are wearable masks you can leave them on and use hands-free.
They look like a sleep mask, but are bigger. They have cushion around the edges and typically include handheld remote that allows you to change the settings.
Helmet Eye Massagers
Other eye massagers stay on by covering your head instead like a helmet of wrapping around it.
Many infrared eye massagers are like this, and they also include handheld remotes for setting control.
What to Look for When Choosng an Eye Massager
There are several factors to consider when buying an eye massager.
Here are the key features to look for when shopping for one of these devices:
Comfort
If your eye massager doesn’t provide comfort, it’s missing the point.
Whereas massage tools like foam rollers and massage sticks are generally painful to use on trigger points, eye massagers should be very gentle, relaxing and pain-free.
Take a look at the material used for an eye massager, which will clue you in on its level of comfort.
Customization
Eye massagers with more settings to choose from are often better investments.
Choosing from different massage styles and heat settings lets you tailor the massage to your eyes and their unique needs.
Adjustability
You want your wearable eye massager to be a perfect fit so that it can release the right trigger points.
One size doesn’t fit all for wearable eye massagers, so be sure to get one that can adjust to your head size.
Music-Playing Abilities
Music is an extra feature some electric eye massagers have that can add to the relaxing effect of the massage experience.
Some eye massagers include nature sounds or soothing music that add to the stress-relieving and therapeutic benefits.
If you’re interested in this feature to help you relax, you can find an eye massager that has it.
Power Source
Some eye massage devices are rechargeable, while others require you to replace the batteries.
While a rechargeable electric massager may seem like a better option, it depends on how long it runs before needing to be recharged, and how long it takes to recharge.
On the other hand, a rechargeable electric eye massager that lasts can be worth it because you don’t need to continually buy new batteries.
The Top Ten Best Eye Massagers Worth Trying
Now that you know how to choose the best eye massager for you.
We’ll take a quick look at the top 10 options on the market.
1. Breo iSee4 Eye Massager
The Breo iSee4 electric eye massager features infrared heating, and includes both vibrational pulses and kneading for massage.
The percussion is too intense for some, but others find it relaxing and effective for relieving eye strain and fatigue.
Plus, you can adjust the intensity by switching between three modes.
While it has an adjustable strap, this device still isn’t adjustable enough to fit everyone, so if you have a larger head, it may feel too tight.
The Breo includes a music feature that can play nature sounds as you relax.
However, the massage and percussion features are quite loud, so it almost seems like the music feature is a way to try and compensate for that.
Overall, the Breo can most likely meet your needs for eye relief and relaxation, granted that it fits you, and that the loud noise doesn’t bother you.
If you end up loving it, it’s easy to take with you anywhere you go, since it folds up into a more compact size.
Pros: Effective heating feature, durable construction, music and nature sounds feature, compact and portable
Cons: Not adjustable enough to fit all head sizes, vibration pulses may feel too strong, loud operation
2. Medical Breakthrough’s Facial Relaxation™
Facial Relaxation from Medical Breakthrough was designed with the help of sleep specialists to help people struggling with insomnia.
It works by stimulating the release of melatonin, which is the hormone that brings on feelings of sleepiness.
It includes heating and bi-directional massaging, to increase circulation in the muscles and skin around your eyes.
Facial Relaxation also includes a vibration feature, which isn’t as intense and percussive as the Breo iSee4.
It also includes meditation music, and all the features and settings can be easily accessed using the buttons on the side of the device.
Unfortunately, Facial Relaxation lacks adjustability, and some people have found it too tight to enjoy.
It folds easily into a portable size, and the outside is made with hard, durable material.
Pros: Music feature, doctor-approved to promote better sleep, gentle vibration, bi-directional massaging, compact and portable
Cons: Not adjustable
3. RENPHO Eye Massager
The Renpho massager is a great all round eye massager and fast becoming the most popular eye massager on Amazon.
It is fully rechargeable via USB with a long lasting battery life. The Renpho eye massager lasts up to 2-3 hours on a single charge.
It has 5 massage modes using a combination of air pressure, heat and vibration.
While you are relaxing back with this eye massager you can also connect it via bluetooth to your mobile phone to listen to your own music.
The Renpho eye massager is very effective and offers you enough settings so that you can customize your experience to find the one that works for you.
If there is one complaint about the Renpho eye massager is that the buttons are very sensitive and while you are trying to adjust the settings it’s easy to press the wrong button.
Pros: Foldable design, auto shut off, easy to use, remote control, 5 massage modes
Cons: Buttons are very sensitive and hard to control when the mask is on your face, mask can slip from your face
4. Bromose Wireless Foldable Rechargeable Eye Massager
The Bromose electric eye massager is a highly-rated and also highly affordable device powered by a rechargeable battery.
You can use it wirelessly via Bluetooth and control the device from your smartphone.
While this sounds like a great feature, it’s not as easy as a device that has buttons you can feel for when the device is covering your eyes.
To change any settings, you have to remove the device in order to see your smartphone.
The Bromose easily folds up so you can bring it on the go. It uses air pressure for a stimulating massage, and has a vibration option for additional stimulation.
It’s designed to hit trigger points around the eye with accuracy, and it has a heat feature and music.
It includes most of the bells and whistles you find in top-of-the-line eye massagers, but for a much lower price.
The only downsides are that it’s a little loud and the battery needs to be recharged after just about an hour of use.
Pros: Affordable, music feature, wireless eye massager
Cons: Poor battery life as the battery isn’t long-lasting, loud operation, no buttons for changing settings without looking
5. Breo iDream5 Head and Eye Massager
The iDream5 from Breo is a helmet that massages both your eyes and head, making it a more optimal choice if you’re looking for headache relief.
It massages the crown of your head and the back of your head, down to the base of your skull.
Whereas most scalp massagers require you to raise your arm above your head and manually massage your head, the iDream5 lets you enjoy a relaxing scalp massage without moving a muscle.
The eye massage is achieved with air compression, and there’s also a heat option.
The head massage portion includes 5 massage heads with a total of 72 nodes that gently knead your scalp.
A great feature of this device is the ability to detach the eye massage portion.
This enables you to see while the device massages your scalp, so you can watch T.V. or read while you relax.
You can control the speed and intensity with different settings, and there’s a vibration option you can try instead of kneading massage.
Pros: Detachable eye massager that massages temples and around eyes, scalp massage with 5 massage heads, adjustable settings and intensity levels, rechargeable with long-lasting battery life
Cons: Expensive
6. BAIYEA Eye Massager
The BAIYEA device is a wireless eye massager with a rechargeable battery.
It has all the bells and whistles, including air pressure massage, heat compression, vibration and a music feature.
It’s easy to adjust the settings with a button while in use, and it folds up for easy transport.
While it’s great to have a heat feature, unfortunately, the BAIYEA takes up to 5 minutes to heat up.
When you only have time for a 5-minute break, this isn’t ideal.
On the other hand, it’s less expensive than top-of-the-line brands like Breo and Aurai.
Pros: Cheaper price, many features in one, easily to carry and portable
Cons: Takes a long time to heat up
7. Aroma Season USB Steam Eye Mask
The Aroma Season eye mask is the cheapest option on this list.
If you just want the benefits of a warm compress on your eyes to relieve puffiness, dry eyes, fatigue and other symptoms, this is a good way to save money.
It heats up and releases a tiny amount of steam, just enough to produce a little moisture.
It has a USB charger, which you can plug into a wall outlet using an adapter, or into your computer or car charger.
You do need it to be plugged in to use it, so it doesn’t have the benefit of being wireless, like many wearable eye massagers.
It also doesn’t actively massage around your eyes; it only provides heat and steam.
Pros: Cheap, no size or adjustability issues, soft plush fabric that is removable and washable, adjustable heat feature that heats between 98.6 and 125.6 degrees F
Cons: No massage feature, no vibration or movement, not wireless
8. OSITO Rechargeable Eye Massager
The OSITO electric eye massager is a wearable, rechargeable mask with great adjustability and portability.
Plus, it has a high success rate of providing all sorts of eye relief, from dark circles to dry eyes.
Even users who have experienced other devices have said they prefer this one.
The device covers a fairly large area around your eyes, and massages on your temples, brow and under your eyes to improve blood circulation around your eyes.
The OSITO has all the features you need, including air pressure massage, vibration, heat and music.
You can program the device to run for your set amount of time (the default setting is 15 minutes).
This way, you can use it to fall asleep or to avoid losing track of time while on a break.
The only complaint with this electric eye massager is the time it takes to heat up.
It only gets warm, whereas other eye massagers or masks with heat features reach higher temperatures.
Pros: Provides an effective massage with air pressure and vibration over a large surface area surrounding your eyes, adjustable band allows the device to fit any head size, set your own massage time with the auto-shutoff feature
Cons: Takes as much as 5 minutes to heat up, doesn’t get very hot
9. SKANDAS Eye Massager
The SKANDAS eye massager is an electric massager with an adjustable strap.
It covers a great deal of surface area on your face, giving you a full massage over your temples and on the tops of your cheeks.
It includes music you can listen to through its two speakers near the ears, as well as a USB port you can use to import your own music for it to store.
It offers heat, air pressure massage and vibration massage, and you can adjust the settings with the buttons on the side of the mask.
The downside is that the SKANDAS takes AAA batteries, which means the massage nodes and vibration could potentially lose intensity as the batteries lose their charge, and you have to keep replacing the batteries.
This electric eye massager is a high-ticket item, but some users have experienced technical malfunctions and rated the quality not worth the price.
Others found that the strap was still too tight even when adjusted.
Pros: Stores your own music with its internal memory, massages a large area on your face, including your cheeks
Cons: Takes AAA batteries instead of having a rechargeable battery, not adjustable enough to fit all sizes
10. Breo iSee16 Eye Massager
The Breo iSee16 is a wearable, rechargeable eye massager that can be used for 90 minutes before recharging.
It’s designed to adapt to the shape of your face and provide a highly accurate massage.
While most users find it comfortable, some say the massage feature is more of a gentle compress, and that it doesn’t do as much as they expected.
A common complaint is that the device is too loud.
On the other hand, some users have had headache relief from using this device.
Compared to the other eye massage devices Breo offers, the iSee16 is a more affordable option that still provides great features.
Pros: Comfortable fit that adjusts to your face, you get 90 minutes of use before recharging, less expensive than other Breo devices
Cons: Loud operation, doesn’t massage as firmly as you may expect
The Best Eye Massager: Recommendations
In the end I decided to go with the Renpho eye massager as the best pick.
I found it to be very effective at creating a relaxing experience and it has become my go to product when dealing with eye fatigue.
After spending a long day at work staring at my computer the Renpho eye massager never fails to relieve my eye fatigue.
It reaches a high temperature quickly and I find the massage modes very soothing.
At times the compression on the temples can feel a bit too strong however you can always choose a softer compression.
The sound on the unit is ‘ok’ and you aren’t going to get a beautiful acoustic experience with the in built speakers but they are good enough.
One complaint is that I found that the buttons were a little too sensitve.
Bearing in mind that you can’t see the buttons when you are wearing the eye massager you have to feel your way to the right buttons.
While doing so it’s very easy to glide your fingers over the wrong button and reset all the settings you’ve set up.
This however is a minor complaint.
Once you manage to learn where all the right buttons are you should find that the Renpho eye massager does the trick.
Overall given the Renpho eye massagers price and effectiveness, it does make it the best eye massager for anyone looking for a good quality eye massager at a decent price.
If you want more than just an eye massage, the Breo iDream5 head and eye massager is a viable alternative.
It gives you all the benefits of a good eye massage, while massaging your scalp at the same time.
By releasing more trigger points, it induces more relaxation, which can help you get to sleep at night or relieve stressful thoughts during the day.
It’s also effective in helping with headaches, and improving blood circulation to the brain.
While it’s an expensive option, it comes from a company that’s well-established in this space and known for doing extensive research during product creation.
If you experience any eye discomfort or headaches caused by eye strain, an eye massager is a great investment.
Ignoring discomfort or pain could cause conditions to worsen, or prevent you from getting a good night’s sleep.
With the number of eye massagers on the market today, there’s something out there for everyone.