When do you apply eyelid moisturiser?

[Joe Gold]

I have to apply Hycosan Original artificial tears 3 times a day as well as Vaseline as an eyelid moisturiser. I'm not sure which order to do it in though.

At night, should I:

A, Wash my face and eyelids, apply Vaseline to face and eyelids, apply Hycosan Original artificial tears, wait 30 minutes, apply Hycosan Night eye ointment, and go to sleep.

This is what the YouTube video 'Do You Have Dry Eyes? | Eye Doctor Recommends This Dry Eye Nighttime Routine' by Eye School with Dr D recommends.

B, Wash my face and eyelids, apply Hycosan Original artificial tears, wait 30 minutes, apply Hycosan Night eye ointment, apply Vaseline to face and eyelids with eyes closed, and go to sleep.

This is what ChatGPT recommends.

What do you do?

[Hokucat]

I personally found option B best for me, applying eyelid moisturizer last, right before going to sleep. Less chance of the moisturizer getting into my eyes.

I’ve tried applying moisturizer before my drops, but often my eyes sting a little doing that because pulling my eyelids to insert the drops, blinking, blotting my eyes with tissue, etc. can cause some of the moisturizer to get into my eyes. Plus I put eye moisturizer on both my upper eyelids and below my eyes, so higher chance of some seeping into my eyes, stinging and compromising the effectiveness of the drops.

[Joe Gold]

I personally found option B best for me, applying eyelid moisturizer last, right before going to sleep. Less chance of the moisturizer getting into my eyes.

I’ve tried applying moisturizer before my drops, but often my eyes sting a little doing that because pulling my eyelids to insert the drops, blinking, blotting my eyes with tissue, etc. can cause some of the moisturizer to get into my eyes. Plus I put eye moisturizer on both my upper eyelids and below my eyes, so higher chance of some seeping into my eyes, stinging and compromising the effectiveness of the drops.

Where around the eyelid area are you supposed to put eyelid moisturiser, Vaseline in my case, so that it's safe?

I've started washing my eyelids and soap and using warm compresses, and I don't want the eyelid skin to get dry.

What do you do personally?

[Hokucat]

You can use a preservative-free nighttime eye lubricant instead of Vaseline, like Systane Nighttime which is 94% white petroleum and 3% mineral oil. My ophthalmologist had me use this instead of Vaseline or Aquaphor on my upper and lower eyelids which used to get dry from all the washing and warm compresses I used to do. This is because Systane Nighttime is mainly the same ingredients as Vaseline and Aquaphor, but is also preservative-free since it’s meant to put directly in your eyes in the first place as a night lubricant, so it’s ok if it gets in your eyes.

No matter if I use Systane Nighttine or now an eye cream around my eyes, I always put it at least a 1/2 centimeter away from my lash line and make sure to use a minimal amount and pat it on so my skin absorbs it well, which also limits any excess getting into my eyes.