As someone who suffers with dry eyes, I know exactly how uncomfortable it can be. Plus I’ve learned how it can cause light sensitivity (also known as photophobia), and learned how disruptive it can be to your day to day life, and learned just how quickly you can get through a big bottle of Optrex.
And it doesn’t look too pretty either when your eyes become bloodshot and you get itchy swollen eyelids. (Of course everyone’s experience is different.)
But if you’re looking at this article you probably already expect that the use of humidifiers may be able to help with your discomfort. And you’d be right, they can make a difference. In fact many medical practitioners recommend that you use one to alleviate your symptoms. (In addition to other methods such as artificial tears of course.)
And if you’re not a fan of having to put eye drops in your eyes, then it’s certainly worth a try. We’ll go into how humidifiers can help to alleviate symptoms of dry eyes in our buying guide and FAQ section.
But first of all we’re excited to show you our Top 5 humidifiers for dry eyes. A solution is at hand, read on…
Summary of reviews
| Product name | Dehumidification Capacity | Color | Dimensions (inches) | Product link |
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| Evaporative Humidifier with Wick Filter | 4,500 SQ FT LARGE ROOM | white | 16.6 x 11 x 24.3 inches | |
| Honeywell Cool Moisture Console Humidifier | 2500 Square Feet | White | 15.4 x 11 x 24.3 inches | |
| Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier | 4500 SQ FT | white | 136.8 x 136.8 x 302.28 inches | |
| TaoTronics Cool Mist Humidifier | up to 1500 Sq Ft. | white | 12.9 x 15.96 x 24.25 inches | |
| FIGROL USB Portable Mini Humidifier | up to 1500 Sq Ft. | white | 12.2 x 8.2 x 18.9 inches |
Contents
Evaporative Humidifier with Wick Filter
Unlike many of the other humidifiers around, this beauty from Opolar is an evaporative type, and does not release a cool mist or fog that can become pesky and messy when it starts to condense back to water.
Instead, water from the tank is converted into nano-water molecules to moisten the air instead. And the moisture is sent 360 degrees around the humidifier, so that the moisture becomes evenly distributed throughout the room, rather than the more patchy effect achieved by cool mist humidifiers.
It’s large 0.8 gallon tank means that it can keep humidity levels up in the air even in larger rooms of up to 400 square feet, so it would make a great addition to a studio flat with an open plan layout.
You don’t have to completely disassemble the humidifier in order to fill the tank, which is nice. You simply pour it into the top. And the touchscreen controls are intuitive and very easy to use.
There are two settings, standard and sleep mode, and then you can set a timer. So you could have the humidifier on for just 2 hours to give the humidity levels of the room a nice boost, or set it for 4 hours, or set it for a full 8 hours sleep session so you can give your dry eyes some much needed shut-eye, knowing that your eyes will not feel dry when you wake up.
The other significant benefit of this humidifier for those with dry eyes is that there’s an embedded filter which does a fantastic job of removing dirt, dust, mineral deposits and other impurities, sending only clean moisture into the surrounding air.
Normally, your natural tears keep the eyes moist and wash away dust, and microorganisms etc that can cause damages or eye infection, but if you have dry eyes then you need help with this all the more.
This filter is easy to clean, but if you ever need to replace it altogether, then you can buy more online at Amazon.
It’s fast to work, with an output rate of 6.8oz/h on standard mode, and when the humidity hits a level of 60%, the humidifying effect stops, so that the air does not become too moist, which can lead to mold.
It’s whisper quiet sleep mode is barely audible (less than 50 dB) and actually helps you to snooze off to sleep rather than disturb you. And if you want to you can choose to activate the night light, which is a nice feature.
And if all that wasn’t enough, this humidifier also reduces static electricity in the air to boot.
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Honeywell Cool Moisture Console Humidifier
Now this is a powerhouse of a humidifier – it will provide enough moisture for your whole house, and if you tend to keep your doors open you won’t have to take the device from room to room.
This is thanks to it’s huge water capacity, made possible by not one but two 1.5 gallon tanks, which can keep the humidity levels up in up to 1900 square feet of space.
And rather than release a fine mist into the air, this humidifier is the evaporative type, and won’t leave any messy condensation on surrounding surfaces.
It’s other stand out feature is the adjustability. It comes with an integrated adjustable humidistat which automatically turns the device on and off to maintain your preset humidity levels.
And better yet, there are also 3 different speed settings for the moisture output. So, if you choose the high setting you should get super fast relief for your dry eyes.
And being an evaporator type, there’s also a wicking filter to remove all sorts of impurities, including pollen, from the water, leaving the air not only fresh but cleaner too.
It will run for a full 24 hours on the low setting, so you don’t have to worry about it stopping during the night. We were also impressed by the quiet noise, significantly quieter than comparable counterparts.
And it also has a wide opening so it’s real easy to fill. Whenever you need to buy any accessories for it, you can get them on Amazon.
Honeywell is so confident in their product that they offer a 3 year limited warranty.
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Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
When we saw just how well this particular humidifier was selling, we just had to see what all the fuss was about.
What we surmised was that its most popular features are: the super affordable price point, – under $40 is great for a humidifier – the sleek, clean looking asymmetric design, and the simplicity of the whole thing.
You just fill the tank with up to 1.5 litres of water, plug it in, choose from 2 output/speed settings, high or low, and with just one switch, the humidifier starts releasing cool mist into your surroundings. The high speed is better for treating your dry eyes.
It can output 150ml of cool mist per hour, and this is enough for medium sized rooms up to about 250 square feet.
A full tank will allow the humidifier to work for a full 16 hours straight. This is great for those who often wake up with dry eyes due to the eyes not fully shutting as you sleep.
Moreover, the MistAire is whisper quiet, so will be sure not to wake any light sleepers in the family.
We also love the addition of the option of the night light, should you need to get up in the night. Great for use in the nursery. And the other thing we love is how you can twist the nozzle, so you can direct the mist away from electricals and upholstery and fabrics.
And you don’t have to worry about the humidifier getting worn from overuse, since when it’s low on water, it will automatically turn itself off.
It’s compact size means it will fit on your desk, helping to alleviate your dry eyes when you need it the most. It’s also easy to assemble, and easy to clean, with everything you need included in the price.
Pure Enrichment are so confident in their product that they provide a full 5 year warranty.
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TaoTronics Cool Mist Humidifier
This is also a best selling humidifier, and there’s a lot to love about it.
It has a large tank for one, coming in at 6 liters, which is about 1.6 gallons, so you won’t have to continually refill it. And it’s suitable for large rooms, of up to 430 square feet.
Once the tank is full, it will keep the air nicely humid up to a whopping 60 hours – that’s more than 2 whole days and nights!
Another great feature is that you can adjust both the direction and the volume of the humidifier’s mist, which is something you just don’t get with more traditional, cheaper cool mist humidifiers.
And whatever setting you choose to use, the humidity level of the room should remain with the ideal levels, between 40 and 60%. We also love that it has an automatic shut-off, this ensures that it won’t keep trying to work when the tank is out of water.
This feature can greatly help the product’s lifespan. And to that end degradation is further prevented thanks to a PCBA nano-film coating that lines the inside.
But better yet it has a high mist output rate, which is what makes it such a good choice for those with dry eyes, since your eye’s natural tears will struggle to evaporate.
The night light, should you choose to use it, gives a nice glow and won’t anger your dry eyes if you’ve got light sensitivity (but don’t tempt fate by staring at it). It also has a very wide opening which makes it very easy to fill.
It’s available in either black or white, with both options looking rather sleek and inconspicuous.
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FIGROL USB Portable Mini Humidifier
For people who are always on the go, this is THE one to go for. You can take it anywhere, and you can use it anywhere too, seeing as you can either use it wired or wireless.
It’s a rechargeable device and comes with a lead for charging, and when you’re ready to use it, make sure the wick is wet, then simply place it in a glass of water, and press the on button. Then it will continuously release mist for up to a total of 5 hours. Not bad for such a small gadget.
And you might think it would go through a glass of water really quick, but surprisingly it doesn’t.
It’s great for preventing your eyes and skin from drying out.
You can adjust the length of the gadget so it fits in whatever water container you happen to have to hand, so long as you feel it’s sturdy enough.
It’s very quiet and shouldn’t distract you from anything you’re doing once you’re used to the continuous mist.
It’s very lightweight and will easily fit in your purse or backpack. And it comes with a black velvet carrying pouch, so you don’t have to worry about it getting damaged in your bag.
It’s a great choice of humidifier to take for a weekend away, seeing as most hotel rooms don’t typically have humidifiers in the rooms.
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Best Humidifier for Dry eyes Buying Guide
It is beyond the scope of this article to go into how humidifiers work, especially since different types work in different ways. We will however attempt to answer a few of your more pressing questions.
How can a humidifier help with dry eyes?
Your eyes can become dry as your eye’s natural tears (not just your crying tears) that are designed to keep your eyes moist, start to evaporate into the air. This happens to everybody, but it’s more uncomfortable if you have a problem with the composition of your tears or an insufficient level of tears.
The purpose of humidifiers is to keep a certain level of moisture in the surrounding air. And with an increased level of moisture in the air, your tears will evaporate more slowly, keeping your eyes much more comfortable.
Many people swear by this method of keeping their eyes more moist because it’s so much less invasive than putting artificial tears into your eyes.
What type of humidifier is best for dry eyes?
Some types of humidifiers are better for dry eyes than others, such as the evaporative or ultrasonic type. This is due to the very clean manner in which they generate moisture in the air, since a contaminated mist could potentially cause your eyes more harm than good.
You should also look for a humidifier with a high mist output rate, but unfortunately that spec isn’t always made clear on the product pages.
And since the idea is to prevent your natural tears from evaporating, then a cool mist is better than a warm or hot mist. Although it is nice to have that option come winter time.
What else to look for in your humidifier
Overall Size
The size of your ideal humidifier depends largely on where it’s being placed. If you’re in a small room, then space in the room is imperative. And if there’s less air in the small room, then you don’t need as big a supply of water to raise the humidity levels.
If space is a particular imperative, then you could invest in a portable humidifier, like our Number 5 Pick, the FIGROL USB Portable Mini Humidifier.
Water Tank Size
The bigger a humidifier’s water tank is, the less often you have to refill it.
Where should I place my humidifier?
If you’re using your humidifier predominantly to help relieve your dry eyes, then it makes sense to keep it close to wherever you find yourself sat. However, you may want to keep your humidifier, if it’s a mist producing one, away from pets, electronics and plants, because of any condensation that might form.
Tips on dealing with dry eyes
If you have trouble with your sight in addition to having dry eyes, then we strongly recommend that you use glasses rather than contact lenses.
If you have particularly severe dry eyes it is best to avoid dry climates, hot fires, and air conditioning, as these decrease the level of humidity in the air. You need a humidity level of at least 45%.
Be careful about putting essential oils into your humidifier. Although some essential oils are thought to help with dry eyes, some humidifiers are not designed to have essential oils or other fragrances added to the water. And you should never use essential oils topically near your eyes.
Can humidifiers help with other conditions?
Humidifiers can actually help relieve a whole host of conditions, including but not necessarily limited to, colds, dry skin, chapped lips, sinus congestion, allergies, asthma, and dry throat.