When was the last time you cleaned your eyelids?
Oil, bacteria, dead skin cells, makeup, and other debris can collect along your eyelid margins as you go about your day. Over time, this buildup can contribute to numerous eye conditions.
Products like OCuSOFT Lid Scrubs are supposed to wash away this debris from the eyelids and eyelashes. But is there any evidence they actually work? And do they work better than diluted baby shampoo (which is what doctors have been recommending for decades)?
Let’s take a look at what the research says.
What Are OCuSOFT Lid Scrubs?
OCuSOFT Lid Scrubs are eyelid cleansers. They’re designed to remove buildup around your eyelashes and along the edges of your eyelids.
They’re different from facial cleansers because they’re specifically formulated for the delicate skin around the eyes. Eye care professionals often recommend them for people with conditions such as:
- Blepharitis: Chronic eyelid inflammation
- Demodex blepharitis: Chronic eyelid inflammation caused by an overgrowth of microscopic Demodex mites
- Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD): A condition that occurs when oil-producing glands in the eyelids become blocked or inflamed
- Dry eye disease
- Contact lens discomfort
- Allergies that leave debris around the eyelids
OCuSOFT, the brand, sells a whole range of products. This includes pre-moistened cleansing pads, foam cleansers, sprays, and hypochlorous acid solutions.
Within their Lid Scrub range, they offer a variety of products, such as Lid Scrub Original, Lid Scrub Plus, Lid Scrub Allergy, and Lid Scrub PLUS Platinum. They also sell disposable pads and foaming cleansers.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that OCuSOFT helped modernize eyelid hygiene. Before the company introduced the first commercially available eyelid cleansing pads in 1986, doctors almost unanimously recommended diluted baby shampoo.
Why Do I Need to Clean My Eyelids?
Your eyelids contain tiny oil glands called meibomian glands. When you blink, the glands release oil into your tears. The job of this oil is to slow down the evaporation of your tears.
If the glands become blocked, the tears evaporate much faster. This can lead to irritation, blurry vision, and dry eyes.
Multiple large studies have proved just how common this is. Researchers estimate that 70.4% of people with dry eye disease also have meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).
The same research also found that 41.7% of people have blocked meibomian glands before they even notice any symptoms. In other words, even if you aren’t actively experiencing any irritation or dryness, it’s still very possible to have blocked glands.
Do OCuSOFT Lid Scrubs Actually Work?
Yes, that’s what the research says. It’s been shown that regular eyelid cleansing can improve the symptoms of conditions like blepharitis, dry eye, and meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). This is because it helps remove the oil, bacteria, dead skin, and other debris that build up along the eyelids.
Removing buildup from the edges of the eyelids also helps prevent the meibomian glands from becoming blocked. And so, they can continue to release the oils needed to slow the evaporation of the tear film.
A clinical trial followed people with Grade 2 MGD who used OCuSOFT Lid Scrub Original for 12 weeks. Their average dry eye symptom score went from 42.1 at the start of the study to just 9.5; that’s a 77% reduction.
A broader review of eyelid hygiene studies reached a similar conclusion. Researchers found that regular lid scrubs improved symptoms of anterior and posterior blepharitis.
For contact lens wearers, cleaner eyelids also mean less oil will get transferred onto the lenses. This helps reduce deposits that create irritation and blurred vision.
Are OCuSOFT Lid Scrubs Better Than Baby Shampoo?
For decades, diluted baby shampoo was the standard recommendation for cleaning eyelids. But this recommendation has now changed to commercial lid cleansers like OCuSOFT. This is mostly because baby shampoo was never designed to deliberately come into contact with the eye.
A clinical trial found that diluted baby shampoo caused a reduction in something called MUC5AC. This is a gel-forming protein that’s important to the function of the eye. Commercial lid cleansers, on the other hand, don’t have this effect.
Additionally, it’s been shown that lid cleansers can reduce elevated levels of the enzyme MMP-9. This is a marker associated with dry eye and blepharitis.
The experience of the patient was also better when they used lid cleansers instead of baby shampoo. In total, 53% preferred the cleanser, compared to 9% for the baby shampoo. The other participants had no preference or preferred both equally.
So the consensus seems pretty clear. People tend to prefer using lid cleansers like OCuSOFT. And the research also says they work much more effectively and are safer for the eyes.
Which OCuSOFT Lid Scrub Should I Get?
OCuSOFT offers several Lid Scrub products, including pads and foams.
OCuSOFT Lid Scrub Original
OCuSOFT Lid Scrub Original is the standard formula. It’s designed to remove oil, crusting, makeup, pollen, and other debris that collects around the eyelashes and eyelids.
It’s often recommended for mild blepharitis, dry eye, and meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). OcuSoft Lid Scrub is available in the form of pre-moistened pads or a foaming cleanser.
OCuSOFT Lid Scrub Plus
OCuSOFT Lid Scrub Plus is the stronger version of the Original formula. It contains OCuSOFT’s patented PSG-2® antimicrobial system. It’s usually recommended for recurring blepharitis or heavier bacterial buildup.
It’s also the best option in the Lid Scrub range for Demodex blepharitis. Demodex mites naturally live around the eyelashes. But when their numbers become too high, they can cause blepharitis, itching, crusting, and inflammation. One large study found that nearly seven in 10 cases of chronic blepharitis involved an underlying Demodex infestation.
Lid Scrub Plus contains 1,2-octanediol, an ingredient known to reduce Demodex folliculorum mite counts. In a clinical trial, people who used OCuSOFT Lid Scrub Plus every night had significantly fewer mites after four weeks.
The participants in the trial who used Lid Scrub Plus actually achieved the same results as those who first received treatment with BlephEx performed by a doctor. This suggests that Lid Scrub Plus may help manage mild to moderate Demodex blepharitis as an at-home alternative to in-office procedures.
Like the Original, OCuSOFT Lid Scrub Plus is available as both pre-moistened pads and a foaming cleanser.
OCuSOFT Lid Scrub Allergy
OCuSOFT Lid Scrub Allergy is intended for allergy sufferers. It removes pollen and other allergens from the eyelids while helping relieve itching caused by seasonal allergies.
OCuSOFT Lid Scrub Plus Platinum
The OCuSOFT Lid Scrub Plus Platinum combines the antimicrobial technology in the Lid Scrub Plus version, but with added moisturizers. This has the additional benefit of hydrating the skin around the eyelids.
TL;DR
- OCuSOFT Lid Scrubs are designed to remove oil, bacteria, dead skin, and other debris around the eyelids.
- Studies show eyelid cleansers perform better than diluted baby shampoo. They’re also safer and gentler on the eyes.
- OCuSOFT Lid Scrub Original has been proven to reduce dry eye symptoms.
- OCuSOFT Plus contains antimicrobial ingredients and can significantly reduce Demodex mite counts after four weeks of use.
- Lid cleansers like OCuSOFT are proven to help with dry eye, blepharitis, and meibomian gland dysfunction. They can be especially beneficial to contact lens users.
