Potato Pack
★☆☆☆☆
Potato Pack
★★★★★
(Chch, New Zealand)
04/29/2013
(Ithaca, Ny)
11/18/2014
(Ohio)
06/19/2016
(On)
12/26/2015
Was your potato selection specific to a white or yellow flesh? What inspired me to contact you is I have s blepharitis...........and its annoying indeed .....I believe in the potatoe remedy.
25 years ago I picked up some planters warts in a squash court shower ( I guess ? ) and researched slices of potatoes .......unbelievable .......I put potatoe slices in my socks and wore shoes ......2-3 days later the the warts were completely gone ......never returned! Awesome! Bob in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
(New Zealand)
06/24/2016
Hi Michelle,
N.Z.Manuka honey, has been hailed as a wonder product for many years. Unfortunately, some unscrupulous people have climbed on the band wagon. They try to get "a slice of the action" as the stuff sells for SO much more than regular honey, which does not apparently have the "X factor"! N.Z. was a bit slow to implement standards and was too trusting that people would do the decent thing and NOT misrepresent products that were not up to scratch. Ha! However, you can now source Manuka honey that should state that it is the genuine article and have that claim backed up by conforming to a national standard.I would recommend a product by the C-----A, company from New Zealand, but there will be others also.Good luck with your quest and check out carefully before you buy!
Sea Buckthorn Oil
★★★★★
(New York)
07/13/2020
Sea buckthorn oil is slightly effective for mite caused Blepharitis. Diluted essential oil tea tree most effective.
Sea Salt and Coconut Oil
★★★★★
I'd been thinking about real, natural salt without additives being a great cure-all, and I wanted to try this on my condition. At this point, I was willing to try anything.
I dissolved a teaspoon of Sea Salt in a cup of lukewarm distilled water, and used this as an eye bath. At first, I did it 3 times a day. After about 5 days, I reduced that to twice a day, and then after several more days I noticed I'd forgotten to do the eye bath in the morning. My eyes were 90% itch-, redness-, and tear-free! The eye bath burns a little, but not bad. It's just like swimming in the ocean. ;)
This morning I did the eye bath again 'cause I felt some itching, and it quickly made it go away. By the way, this is important: after the salt water eye bath, I let my eyes dry for a few minutes and then apply VIRGIN COCONUT OIL to my upper and lower inner eyelids. I simply dip a Q-tip in the coconut oil, let the excess drip, and swab my lids gently. I only use 1 Q-tip for both eyes (one end per eye). It makes your vision blurred for about 15 minutes, and then you see clearly again.
As a side effect, I also found that my eyelashes had become freakishly long! I believe it's the coconut oil that's responsible for this.
At present, I would say my blepharitis is under control with the salt water eye bath and coconut oil method. Try it--it might work for you!
(Northern Usa)
07/29/2014
Beautiful. Thank you for posting this. The salt water makes sense, since blepharitis is caused by bacteria, and salt kills bacteria. I think WARM salt water would be best, since the heat helps the circulation, and that helps get rid of infections too, and warmth is known to help blepharitis. I'm wondering if it might be a good idea to rinse off the salt water with plain distilled water after the treatment. I don't know...I'll try both ways. I'll use Celtic salt, which is really high quality. Regarding your long lashes, it may be from controlling the bacteria. My eye doctor told me my eye lashes have fallen out as a result of my blepharitis. You used your creativity. Bravo. I'm going to try it.
(Manila, Philippines)
07/29/2014
Thanks, Lilac! You can rinse after the eye bath if you like. For me it was just more effective without rinsing. This morning there was a little bit of itching again and in the rush of getting my kids ready for school, I forgot to do the eye bath. No problem! I'll do it after I drop them off. The itching has subsided anyway, and I'm so happy I've got this thing managed.
(Dayton, Oh)
04/28/2015
Brilliant, the salt-method. My eyes were flaring up badly today and nothing really helped to relieve the stinging and redness around my eyes. Since I always get rid of throat pain by deep gurgling with a sea salt solution, your suggestion made perfect sense to me. It made me actually want to swim in the ocean. Maybe beach vacations are the super cure for Blepharitis and the soul :)
I soaked two cotton balls in the warm solution and carefully cleaned the entire eye area. Then I soaked two new cotton balls, squeezed the excess water out a bit and laid down for ten minutes. It faintly tingled. No rinsing afterwards, but a generous application of organic Manuka Honey cream to moisturize.
Since this is the first time doing it, I can't vow for future results, just yet. My eyelids are still bright red and swollen, but finally there is no stinging or discomfort anymore right after the treatment.
Let me continue this for a few days and see if the redness and swelling will go down. Not to be in pain right now is a very welcome change. Of course, I hope the salt/Manuka routine will eventually transform me into my normal self.
Shea Butter
★★★★★
I began using the oil cleansing method (look it up - it's awesome) to wash my face at night. I have a few different mixtures that I use. Mostly my cleansers are comprised of 20% cold-pressed castor oil to 80% other oil (I interchange almond oil, olive oil, avocado oil, jojoba oil, etc). Contrary to what you may think, this really cleanses the face well (the blackheads on my nose are no longer visible to me), but it didn't do anything for my blepharitis.
I then began experimenting with different moisturizers to use after oil-cleansing my face. I started with one type of oil like coconut or olive and while they were good for my overall facial skin - they weren't healing my dry patch which by this point had actually extended into the corner of my eye and was causing a painful little split in my skin (not fun! ). Then one day a friend gave me a moisturizer that she had made. She had whipped together (literally, in a bowl with a mixer) shea butter, coconut oil, and almond oil. The texture of this stuff is AMAZING. I actually even use it as my oil cleanser sometimes. For the first time I could tell that although the patch wasn't healing - it was being soothed. This was the first time I've ever used shea butter and because I'm insanely inquisitive - I decided to do some research. I found tons of info where people vouched that shea really helped many of their flaky, irritated, dry skin issues. I decided to give it a try and I am so glad that I did!! I got online and ordered 100% unrefined organic shea butter; grade A; ivory color. I was able to get 1 pound (16 ounces) of the stuff for $15.99 (and I got a free ebook with body butter recipes which is handy trying to go all natural). I began using the shea butter immediately. I didn't mix or whip it with anything else - just the pure shea! I used a spoon to scrape some off of the block (mine came in a 1lb bar) and then I rubbed it between my forefinger and thumb for a minute just to make it more malleable, then I massaged it into the scaly spot on my eyelid and all around my eye. I did this several times throughout the day. By the 4th day of my new routine with the shea - my blepharitis is gone again!!! The sore crack in the corner of my eye is completely healed and my eyelid looks normal again! I am so happy to have found something that works again and I hope this helps someone else find relief as well.
(Fl)
09/19/2014
Steam Room
★★★★★
I went in for about 10-15 minutes. I hydrated well beforehand, and it initially felt weird, then burning. I carried on. I left, hopped in the warm showers, and just rinsed my face and eyelids with warm water and rubbed over it a bit with my fingers - no shampoo, not excessive rubbing, and just water. My eyelids looked *terrible.* I thought I had made a huge mistake.
I took 2 aleve when I got home and probably for two days...but noticed that once the swelling and redness went down, (maybe two days) my eyes were producing their own tears again. They looked terrible for a while...but whatever that gunk that clogged my glands were, seemed to be melted. I still use cliradex wipes once a day...but this was the thing that seemed to make the most difference.
I've tried those beaded eye masks, and a million things. I was so desperate. This really helped me so I thought I would share.
I only did it once. I now don't use drops at all, and put some organic olive oil on my lashes at night, but that's it.
Tea Tree Oil
★★★★★
Tea Tree Oil
★★★★★
Last winter had a cold + sinusitis which, among others, battled by inhaling steam - few drops of essential oils in pot of boiling water. As I was alternating nose and mouth opening over pot briefly under the towel, happened to move over and cover eye lids as well (with eyes closed). Having eye infection frequently (must be related to contact lenses solution), I noticed this time eye infection got cleared without using any creams or eye drops. Itching stopped almost instantly after first steam - inhale session.
Steam with few drops of tea tree oil also seem easier to apply, compared to poultice or oil mixture.
Tea Tree Oil
★★★★★
I must also mention for blepharitis, mix a cup of boiled water with one half teaspoon of baking soda. Clean eyelids with solution when cool using q- tips. Also, for dry eyes, drink flax seed oil, omega 3 and primrose oil. Primrose oil has GLA which help the oil gland produce the lipid that prevent evaporation of the tears
To keep the bad bacteria away, strengthen the immune system. Use anti inflammatory once a day. This is found at most health store. Use probiotics to help balance the gut flora and get rid of the bad bacteria, otherwise, blepharitis returns.
This approach has work for me. I hope everyone recovers from this terrible infection.
(Massachusetts, Usa)
04/10/2016
Tea Tree Oil
★★★★★
But the biggest problem I had was my eyes were dry still and would return to being very bloodshot if I was looking at any screen. 6 months after I first felt symptoms I found this site and say the suggestion of tea tree oil and decided to try it. Massive success..! It can sometimes sting but its been 5 days since I started applying it and I don't even need to put it on anymore..my eyes lubricate again don't itch when looking at screens. After 6 months I was desperate and I'm really glad I tried:)
(Miami, FL)
12/26/2014
Eyes and liver are connected.
(OR)
05/26/2022
Tea Tree Oil
★★★★★
The first time I got blepharitis, I went to the doctor and got an antibiotic ointment perscription. It took almost a full month for the ointment to work and for the irritation to go completely away. Because I am not in my home country (I am American), I did not want to have to go to the doctor again. In part, I also wanted an alternative way to deal with this because I did not want to have to deal with the uncertainty for an entire month again - it took so long before!!!
So, I searched, found this forum, and saw the tea tree oil cure. I happened to have it at home, so I decided it would be easy enough to try out.
I mixed, in a bowl, in two drops of tea tree oil and about 1 tablespoon of olive oil. I then stirred the mixture with a q-tip for about 10 seconds and rubbed some on my eye before bed. Overnight it became much better.
I continued to apply the mixture about 3 times a day for about 3 days just to be safe. It has now been another four days since I stopped applying the treatment, and the symptoms have not returned. I am so freakin' happy! Maybe what I had was not serious and would have gone away on its own, but really it felt exactly like the symptoms I had two years ago (which lasted for a whole month even with a perscription).
So, if you have these symptoms I really suggest trying out the tea tree oil treatment out! From what I can tell, it saved me a lot of time, pain, and anxiety. I hope it works for you too!
(Usa)
11/18/2014
Hi Snazzy,
I have been struggling with it for a while and it seems that as much as I wash my eyes with Ocusoft and do warm compresses my eyes are not getting any better. Actually, I think it's getting worse. And, it's worst in my left eye :( I have noticeable eyelid inflammation. I read your comments and was wondering if you think it will help bring the inflammation down?
P.S. I have seen an optometrist twice and all they keep saying is that its chronic and to keep up the warm compresses, lid scrub, and the fish oils. During my last visit, they recommended using an antibiotic a few days a month. I am not convinced that it will be enough to deal with the chronic inflammation.
(New Jersey)
08/23/2015
With difficulty!!
I ended up doing one eye at a time, placed 2 drops tea tree to cotton bud, 1 drop to wet the cotton and 1 drop to make wet.
1st I used a tincture / homopathy solution using Euphrasia of mother tincture (also called eyebright), few drops in boiled but cooled water, using cotton pads to wash eyes and lashes, softening any crust build up...I also added a couple drops of marigold tincture to the wash, both worked well but looking at bottles I have there is no marigold left but just under half bottle of eyebright, so I used marigold more than eyebright. Eyebright tho as the name suggests is the Eye healing herbal tincture, choice is yours.
Trust me do not pick it off dry, wosens and spreads creating lashes to thin and scar eyelids!!
Once crust buildup removed and lashes washed, leave to dry naturally, else tea tree will run into eyes.
Take cotton bud, close eye to treat making sure it stays shut then wipe the bud across ends of lashes and then further down lash,
i wouldnt wipe the base of lashes as extremely painful stinging of the eye if tea tree gets in. Keep eye shut for 5 or so mins (pain in ass but unavoidable if treatment to work)
Then repeat with the other eye if needs be.
You have to keep at it everyday and for a couple months to make sure alls well. I did this up to 3x a day as went on too long causing loose of lashes and chunks of skin scarring from dry picking it - b4 I knew proper way.
Mine is almost cleared now, so perservere with tea tree, if gets in eyes and u cannot bare the stinging rinse and flush with cold water and dab dry, it eases off, then try again.
only 1 doctor I came across said that his patients came in, he laid them on the table and cleaned the eyes, then he used a tiny brush to coat the lash with tea tree, then the nurse took over, he kept his patients on the table for 10 mins to let the oil take effect and they offered ways to keep the eye shut once painted, cant remeber what tho.
So maybe if you teach someone how to apply the oil for you while u lay on yr back lessoning the oil entering eye.
the eyebright and marigold tinctures I got from a health food shop that caters a selection of meds.
produced by
A.Nelson & Co LTD / 5ml bottle of:
1. Euphrasia of mother tincture.
2. Calendula of mother tincture (marigold)
It's a strong solution that only requires 1 - 2 drops in cup of water.
Hope that helps
Mark
(Smithtown)
11/26/2016
Tea Tree Oil
★★★★★
(Aruba)
04/01/2015
I have blepharitis both eyes for one year now. I also have the crawling feeling. I read a lot about demodex blepharitis after nothing seems to help. I tried Cliradex (expensive) wipes which helped me as they contain tea tree oil which erradicates mites. Lately I tried a new product called Frex Clean-T, which also contains tea tree oil and calendula. Works really great, and for 1/4 the price of cliradex. My blepharitis is under control now, thank god.
Tea Tree Oil, Baby Shampoo
★★★★★
I made this for my Aunt (86) to treat her blepharitis and got great results. I have also used pine turpentine gum spirits (Diamond G Brand) diluted down to 1% on myself with good results too.
You will need:
- Tea tree oil (USP grade)
- Baby shampoo (hypoallergenic, no tears)
- Travel-size bottle
Instructions:
* Rinse and clean travel-size bottle
* Insert 1 part tea tree oil to 3 parts baby shampoo
* Gently shake the bottle to blend the oil and shampoo
* Scrub affected eyelid margins for 20 seconds
* Rinse eyelids with warm water. Please ensure the treatment is completely rinsed from lids
* Repeat treatment every day (I do it in the shower) for the next 30 days for good results.
(Kentucky)
10/13/2024
★★★★★
Tea Tree Oil/Aloe Vera Gel Eye Lid Ointment – Instructions for Blepharitis
In my effort to improve this formula. I am satisfied with the performance of this recipe for use in Blepharitis “Demodex mites”, Weeping eyes, Eye Irriation, Eye Crust, Eye infection, Chalazion (Eye Lump), Eye Stye, etc...
You will need:
* Tea tree oil (USP grade)
* Aloe Vera Gel (Fruit of the Earth Brand, No additives)
* Cosmetic jar with lid, 1 oz. used but clean
Instructions:
* Rinse and clean cosmetic jar
* Add ½ aloe vera gel to jar, then add eight (8) drops tea tree oil, then add ½ aloe vera gel til jar is almost full
* Gently mix the aloe and tea tree oil with a butter knife til uniformed
* Apply about 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon mixture with your finger to the eyelid “WITH EYES CLOSED” and rub into the eye lashes and eye lids til dry. It dries in about 15 seconds.
* Repeat treatment 2x every day for the next 30 days for good results.
Why I chose these ingredients?
AnchorAloe gel: Aloe vera contains 75 potentially active constituents: vitamins, enzymes, minerals, sugars, lignin, saponins, salicylic acids and amino acids. Introduction Esteemed as an internal or external healing plant for at least 5000 years it is often called ‘The Miracle Plant.' or “Plant of Immortality”. Aloe vera has been used for medicinal purposes in several cultures for millennia: Greece, Egypt, India, Mexico, Japan and China. Egyptian queens Nefertiti and Cleopatra used it as part of their regular beauty regimes. Alexander the Great is said to have sent his army from Greece to an island off the coast of Somalia just to obtain its crop of aloe. The first reference to Aloe vera in English was a translation by John Goodyew in A.D. 1655 of Dioscorides' Medical treatise De Materia Medica.
For ANY skin trauma or irritation it will heal, soothe and reduce inflammation. It provides 20 of the 22 human required amino acids and 7 of the 8 essential amino acids. It also contains salicylic acid that possesses anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Lignin, an inert substance, when included in topical preparations, enhances penetrative effect of the other ingredients into the skin. Saponins that are the soapy substances form about 3% of the gel and have cleansing and antiseptic properties.
Tea tree oil: Tea tree oil has a broad spectrum of antimicrobial and antifungal activity that make it perfect for first aid applications. In the study, an ointment containing 5% tea tree oil was applied to the eyelashes of the patients. The patients were told to apply the ointment after washing their faces, once a day for 4 weeks.
The antimicrobial properties of tea tree oil make it the most effective remedy for treating blepharitis. This essential oil also helps reduce the inflammation in your eyes and is also particularly efficient at killing demodex mites.
It was found that there was considerably less itching and fewer mites. It is worth noting that 2 out of the 24 patients experienced irritation from the ointment.
Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3524441
Turpentine Baths
★★★★★
I am 21 days into the bath regiment (of a total of 30 days this round) when at about the 10th day I noticed I was not having eye issues anymore.
The symptoms I was having were; watery-red eyes, itchy eyelids, crusty eyelids upon waking up, sensitivity to light, blurry vision at times.
The only thing I can think of that is helping clear my eyes is when I'm taking the white bath, I am submerging my head down into the water and placing a soaked washcloth from the bath waters across my eyes and forehead. I do this for the entire 20-minute setting.
Since pure gum turpentine is an exceptional broadband anti-pathogen, anti-microbial, anti-parasite, fungicide. It makes sense that it would work. I just never made the connection to use it as a compress over my eyes. I am making my own homemade white baths using (Humco Brand - Pure Gum Resin Turpentine).
(San Antonio, Tx.)
02/12/2022
(Kentucky)
02/19/2022
★★★★★
@ Javier... Cups? Try drops! The first time I tried this, it felt like someone poured gasoline on me and lit me on fire! Unless your skin is made of leather, it will probably do the same to you. Good news is, you will get used to it.
Making your own white turpentine bath
source recipe:
https://gameasphalt.ru/en/skipidar-emulsiya-skipidarnye-vanny-instrukciya-pokazaniya-otzyvy/
This white emulsion contains high quality essential oil of pine resin, along with salicylic acid, natural camphor and soap. It is used for bathing, which activate and clean the capillaries through their contractions and pulsations, is to open the obstructed capillaries. This increases the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the cells and leads to an increased removal of waste products. White emulsion does not increase body temperature.
White turpentine baths ingredients:
- Composition of the emulsion:
- turpentine/gum balsam 0.5 liter
- water 0.5 liter
- salicylic acid or willow bark extract 3 gram/ml
- baby soap 30 gram/ml
- camphor alcohol 20ml
White turpentine mixture. To prepare 1 liter of the mixture, you will need: distilled water 550 ml, salicylic acid 3 g, camphor alcohol 20 ml, gum turpentine 500 ml and baby soap 30 g, which must be finely chopped. Method of preparation: pour distilled water into an enamel bowl and put on fire. After boiling water, add salicylic acid and planed baby soap. Stirring with a glass rod, cook for about 15 minutes, over low heat - until the soap dissolves. Remove the dishes from the fire and pour in the gum turpentine. Then, mix and add camphor alcohol. The resulting mixture, pour into a glass dish made of tinted glass. The finished mixture looks like curdled milk. During storage, it may separate into 2-3 layers - therefore, it must be shaken before use. Store the mixture in a dark place and at room temperature - so it can be stored for up to 1 year.
OR
My Small Batch Formula
Fill the bathtub up with enuff water so you can submerge your head down into it while bathing.
Bathtub temp MUST be at 100 degrees F.
While the tub is filling up. Take a clean empty soda bottle and add the following:
- 20 drops Pine resin turpentine. Increase drops as you can tolerate up to 60 drops.
- 1 - 325mg aspirin for the salicylic acid (it will dissolve in water)
- 20 drops baby shampoo
- 20 drops camphor oil
Now fill the bottle halfway up with water, cap, and shake til uniformed.
Now add this to your bathwater. Soak and enjoy. Unless you have a way to re-heat the water in the tub, you will have to refill tub with a new batch.
(Kentucky)
06/14/2023
Update:
I've been reading a medical book about blepharitis called TR. Awf. OPHTH. Soc., vol. 65, published in 1967 DEMODEX FOLLICULORUM BLEPHARITIS
After reading this doctor's research, I am thoroughly GROSSED OUT. To put it blatantly, microscopic worms/parasites are burrowing into your eye lid glands to feed. They over populate and cause the symptoms your doctor casually calls “dry eye”. No… It's a worm! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demodex
The author, Tullos 0. Coston, M.D. states:
The fastest and most direct method for killing demodex mites is for the ophthalmologist to apply one of the following diluted solutions to the lid margins as described in the discussion on detection. After five or ten minutes, applied again, destroying the emerging mites. Actually many agents would kill the partially exposed organisms instantly (turpentine, D.M.S.O., benzine, acetone, chloroform, camphor, ethyl acetate, iodine, spirits of ammonia, to name only a few). The above treatment should be repeated weekly for three weeks, together with cotton applicator cleansing twice daily. From the book – TR. Awf. OPHTH. Soc., vol. 65,1967 page 388.
Understanding this doctor's research, I now understand why the turpentine baths with eye compress were working so well. To successfully treat blepharitis, you must wash your face and especially the eye's with soap and water daily and the treatment MUST BE DONE for 4 – 8 weeks, depending on severity. This interrupts the life cycle of the mites/worms/parasites. I first chose turpentine because you can obtain it off the shelf or online for a few dollars as opposed to a doctor's visit and them not really doing anything for me.
Now, I realize why my grandmother had a turpentine soap bar at home. I've been using tea tree oil soap on my face and eyes in an attempt to prevent a relapse of blepharitis. So far it's working.
Now… The #1 reason for Blepharitis?
According to the author, A frequent common denominator in appreciable Deilodex infestation is the failure to use soap on the face; so an essential step in treatment is careful face washing with soap. In my experience, 30 percent of patients with lid demodeces used no soap on the face, while only 6 per cent of those without demodeces avoided soap. The mite dearly likes grease (the oil sebum in your pores, that is it's food) and the use of facial creams and no soap promote its welfare. Cited by Ayers, S. Jr., Pityriasis folliculorum (Demodex), Arch. Dermat. u. Syph., 21:19-24,1930; Demodectic eruptions (demodicidosis) in the human, Arch. Dermat., 83: 816,1961
TIIE VICIOUS CIRCLE use of cosmetic creams for "cleansing" and avoidance of soap and water ("My face is so dry")
which leads to:
favors the growth of the Demodex (it normally lives on sebum)
this leads to:
which results in follicular scaling and plugging, sensations of itching or burning and feeling of roughniess
this leads to:
which causes the patient and her cosmetic counselor to conclude that her skin is too dry, to tolerate soap
which leads to further… My face is so dry
You have now laid the groundwork for a demodex mite infestation….
The Babylonians were the one ones who invented soap at 2800 B.C. In ancient Egypt, a medical document called the Ebers Papyrus described a recipe including animal and vegetable fats and alkaline salts from wood ash were used for washing the body to rid it of parasites on the skin. The understanding of soap's benefits to fight infection and promote healing grew through several events of the 19th and 20th Centuries. During the Crimean War in the 1850s, Florence Nightingale, credited with the evolution of modern nursing, stressed the importance of washing hands with soap to prevent the spread of cholera.
Now get up from your computer and go wash your face and eyes with soap and water.
(Idaho)
06/16/2023
Hi Rob in Kentucky, thanks so much for sharing this. I really appreciate it. I'm going to tell my sons this so they don't keep “forgetting” to wash their faces with soap!
Warm Compress
★★★★☆
Warm Compresses Twice A Day
1. Use a Small, Microwavable, Hot/Cold Reusable Compress (A Walmart Equate brand compress measures 11” by 5” and costs about $6.00)
2. Microwave the compress at High for 50 seconds (1400 watt microwave) (adjust as comfortable/necessary)
3. Take one sheet of a paper towel and fold it in half and then fold it into thirds to achieve a paper ‘bandage' of 10” by 2”
4. Run water (warm or cold) over the paper ‘bandage' to saturate it
5. Squeeze the excess water out of the paper ‘bandage'
6. Set you alarm (cell phone or kitchen timer) for 5 minutes
7. Lean your head back in a chair or sofa
8. Place the wet compress over your eyes
9. Place small compress on top of the wet bandage (lightly press the compress into the bandage to make better contact with your eyes))
10. Turn off alarm and use your fingers to hold the ends of the bandage and gently ‘massage' (for 10 to 15 seconds) the bandage from the corners of your eyes towards your nose for 10 to 15 seconds to help squeeze oil out of the eyelid glands