Dry eyes need more than a splash of moisture, they need a proper routine that tackles the cause as well as the symptoms. The Optase and Hycosan 3-step routine, heat, cleanse, hydrate, works with each layer of your tear film to ease symptoms and keep them from coming back. Below, we break down what each step does, which product to reach for, and how to build the routine into your day.
AcuvueAir OptixBiofinityClaritiDailieseverclearFreshlookMiruPrecisionProclearSofLensTotalDaily Contact LensesTwo Weekly Contact LensesMonthly Contact LensesExtended Wear Contact LensesContact LensesToric Contact lensesColoured Contact LensesMultifocal Contact LensesSilicone Hydrogel LensesDry Eye TreatmentsEye DropsEye VitaminsHygiene & Lid CareEye Wash & Sprayseverclear Eye DropsHycosan Extra Eye DropsOptase® TTO Lid WipesOptase® Comfort Dry Eye SprayOptase® Moist Heat MaskArtelacOptaseHycosanPreserVisionSystaneMulti-purpose Cleaners & SalinesGas Permeable Travel PacksHydrogen Peroxideeverclear RefreshBiotrue DuoPackRenu MPS Multi-Purpose Solution 3 PackEasySept 3 PackAcuvue Revitalens 2 PackBostoneverclearOpti-FreeRenuAbout Vision DirectHelp CentreTrack&Return my orderBlogBuyers' GuidesFAQContact usDelivery InformationHow to read your contact lens prescriptionHow do I care for my contact lenses?Dry eyesBest contact lenses of 2026: updated rankingContact lenses and make-up: Which goes first?How does stress affect your eyesight?FREE everclear ELITE trialFREE everclear ADM trialPrice Match PromiseFREE deliveryView All TypesView All Eye Care BrandsView All BrandsView MoreAll Contact LensesClaim NowAll Eye CareAll SolutionsAll Help and NewsSee All Offers
The 3-Step Dry Eye Care Routine: Heat, Cleanse, Hydrate
Why do my eyes feel dry in the first place?
Dry eye happens when your tears can't keep your eyes comfortable, either because you're not producing enough, or because the tears you do produce evaporate too fast. It's one of the most common eye complaints in the UK, and screens, air conditioning, contacts, and even hay fever can all make it worse. If you want the full picture on causes and symptoms, our guide to dry eyes covers it in more depth.
A single bottle of drops can help in the moment, but it only addresses one part of the problem. Your tear film actually has three layers: an oily outer layer, a watery middle layer, and a mucin layer that helps everything stick to the eye surface. When the oily layer is blocked or missing, often due to blocked meibomian glands along the eyelid, tears evaporate too quickly no matter how much you top them up. That's why a 3-step routine, heat to unblock, cleanse to clear debris, and hydrate to top up moisture, tends to work better than drops alone.
Step 1: Heat, unblock the glands
The first step is warmth. Applying a warm compress to closed eyelids helps loosen the oils inside the meibomian glands, so they can flow properly into your tear film again. This is the step most people skip, but it's often the one that makes the biggest difference.
The Optase Moist Heat Mask uses HydroBead technology to draw moisture from the air and release it as a steady, natural moist heat once warmed in the microwave. Simply warm it, lie back, and rest it over closed eyes for a few minutes. It's reusable and comes with its own storage bag. Tip: the same mask can also be chilled in the freezer and used as a cold compress instead, if your eyes are feeling puffy or irritated rather than dry that day.
Step 2: Cleanse, clear away debris
Once the glands are warmed and the oils are flowing, cleansing the eyelid margin clears away the build-up of debris, make-up, and bacteria that can block them straight back up again. This step is especially important if you deal with blepharitis or meibomian gland dysfunction, both common causes of gritty, irritated lids. You'll find the full range of lid hygiene options in our Hygiene & Lid Care category.
A few ways to cleanse, depending on what suits your routine best:
- Optase TTO Lid Wipes, pre-moistened and infused with Tea Tree Oil, ready to use with no extra solution needed.
- Optase TTO Gel, a 3-in-1 formula that cleanses, moisturises, and soothes in one step, ideal if you prefer a gel to a wipe.
If you'd rather skip wipes and gels altogether, Optase Protect spray is sprayed directly onto closed eyelids for a quick, antibacterial cleanse with no rinsing required, useful for people who find wipes fiddly or want a faster morning routine.
Step 3: Hydrate, top up moisture
The final step is rehydration. Once the glands are clear and the lids are clean, lubricating eye drops top up the tear film and lock moisture onto the eye surface. Whether you need everyday eye drops for dry eyes or something stronger, which drop to choose really depends on how severe your symptoms are:
- Hycosan Original, a preservative-free everyday drop, good for general dryness from screens or air conditioning.
- Hycosan Extra, a thicker formula for more persistent dryness that needs longer-lasting relief.
- Hycosan Plus, formulated for moderate to severe dry eye symptoms.
- Hycosan Dual, combining hyaluronic acid with Ectoin, well suited to eyes that flare up with allergies as well as dryness.
- Hycosan Night, a soothing ointment applied before bed, for overnight relief and comfort on waking.
If you find drops tricky to apply, the Optase Comfort Dry Eye Spray is applied to closed eyelids and works through natural blinking, so there's no need to instil anything directly into the eye.
Building the routine into your day
A simple way to fit all three steps in without it feeling like a chore:
- Morning: warm the heat mask for a few minutes over closed eyes, cleanse along the lash line, then apply your chosen Hycosan drop before you start the day.
- Evening: repeat the same three steps, finishing with Hycosan Night if your eyes tend to feel worse first thing in the morning.
- On busy days: even the hydrate step alone, little and often, is better than skipping the routine altogether. Build heat and cleanse back in as soon as you can.
FAQs
The 3-step routine works best once or twice a day for most people. If your eyes feel consistently dry, doing it morning and evening will give the most noticeable improvement.
Yes, you can use the 3-step routine alongside contacts. Most of the products in it are preservative-free and suitable for contact lens wearers, but always check the product packaging and insert your lenses after the routine is complete.
For the best results, yes, all three steps should be done every time, as each one targets a different part of the problem. That said, hydrating alone is better than nothing on days when time is tight.
The heat mask should be used for the time stated on the pack instructions, and replaced after around six months of daily use.
Yes, this routine is suitable for blepharitis. A warm compress, lid hygiene, and lubricating eye drops, the three steps covered here, are commonly recommended for managing blepharitis and meibomian gland dysfunction, alongside advice from your optician.
If your symptoms don't improve, it's worth discussing persistent dry eye symptoms with your optician or GP, particularly if they affect your vision or contact lens wear.
Take the first step
Dry eyes rarely improve with one product alone. Warming, cleansing, and hydrating together gives your tear film everything it needs to reset, one step at a time.