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If there’s one area on my face that’s aged exponentially over the last decade it’s my eyes—and I‘m not just talking about my more prominent crow’s feet. I went from having perfect vision to wearing progressive lenses, increasing prescription strength every year. Add in the fact that I’m a writer who spends hours in front of a screen, I find myself reaching for my dry eye drops more than I care to admit.
Things also got a lot worse once I started going through menopause, where tired eyes and headaches quickly became my new norm. Optometrist Dr. Meenal Agarwal says that “during and after menopause, estrogen levels fluctuate, which affects pain receptors in the brain. Therefore, changes in estrogen can trigger headaches and migraines.”
Guess what, those hot flashes and night sweats I’ve come to know all too well, lead to a lack of sleep, which Agarwal says is also a “common headache trigger.” With a book proposal deadline, I’m trying to meet my chances of limiting screen time is almost nil, but there must be something out there that can help this mama and her tired eyes?
Enter the Renpho Eyeris eye massager. My sister was gifted the gadget awhile back to help with her migraines and during a recent visit introduced me to the device. Normally, as the older sister, I follow the “what’s hers is mine” adage, but it was providing her relief so I forked over the funds and got one of my own.
From the moment it arrived I’ve been trying to use it regularly, including taking it with me to wear on a recent flight. Is this an item I’m excited to gift all my middle-aged friends this holiday season? Or is it more of a gimmick that doesn’t live up to the almost 17,000 five-star ratings? Read my full review below to find out!
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The RENPHO eye massager offers five different modes including vibration, compression and heated massage and boats Bluetooth capabilities. Listen to your favorite playlist as you enjoy a spa-like eye massage at home.
- Offers heated massage and compression
- Helps with dry eyes and headaches
- Pairs easily with your smartphone so you can listen to your favorite playlist as you relax
- Adjustable strap allows for a more custom fit
- Foldable, portable design makes it convenient for travel
- Not suitable for everyone and people with certain eye conditions should avoid using
- The vibrating function is a bit loud which can disrupt relaxation
What is the Renpho eye massager?
The Renpho portable eye massaging mask is a lightweight, wearable device offering a spa-like eye massage in the comfort of your own home.
Measuring 7.87″ x 5.51″ x 4.33″ and weighing 1.46 pounds, it comes equipped with five built-in modes for a more contoured experience. The modes include: compression-heat, compression-heat-vibration, compression only, heat only and vibration only.
The massager’s heating pads allow for a comfortable temperature between 104 and 113 degrees Fahrenheit. The delicate skin around your eyes will become more relaxed as the massager rotates between oscillating pressure and rhythmic percussion massaging.
You are also able to adjust the compression strength between no pressure, soft pressure and strong pressure. The brand advises removing eyeglasses, contact lenses and false eyelashes before using the massager.
The massager’s 180 degree foldable, compact design makes it convenient for travel, and the adjustable headband ensures a more custom fit. The protein leather lining of the mask will also feel soft against your face.
The <45dB (decibel) noise level does mean it’s not exactly silent, so keep that in mind if you prefer a quieter experience.
The device provides built-in serene spa music, but you can easily pair it with your smartphone to select a playlist of your choice.
It’s not recommended to use the massager for any longer than 20 minutes at a time — the manufacturer warns that anyone with cataracts, glaucoma, retinal conditions or has undergone eye operations or any other serious eye issues should absolutely avoid using this device.
Included with the device is a charging cable with a USB that can be plugged into your computer or a wall charger and it takes roughly 3-3.5 hours to fully charge the device.
Also, it’s important to note that the massager is FSA and HSA eligible.
What I like about the massager
The convenience of the device is what initially sold me on it. I love going to the spa for a facial or massage, but I’m a busy middle-aged mom of two and designating time for self-care appointments can be challenging. This portable massager folds up easily and lightweight enough I can throw it in my bag to use after a stressful day of travel. My favorite setting is the compression-heat mode as it really targets my temples and the warmth helps to refresh my tired, dry eyes.
Using the massager is very intuitive, and within minutes, I was an expert on how to navigate its various settings. For the first few times I wore it I stuck with the music provided, but as time went on, I was excited to explore some of my relaxation and brown noise playlists. I seamlessly synced the device to my smartphone. Honestly, while it was nice to have access to a variety of sounds, it wasn’t a deal breaker for me; I would have been okay with the tranquil music that comes with the device, so if you don’t have a smartphone you can easily enjoy the benefits of this affordable gadget.
After using it for 20 minutes around 5-6 days a week, I did notice a marked improvement in how dry my eyes got. In fact after the first full week of use, I maybe applied eye drops once or twice in total, a huge reduction from multiple times daily. Did it help with my headaches? Absolutely. After several hours in front of the computer my eyes began to actually crave sessions with their new relaxation buddy.
I tend to use the massager at the end of the day and sometimes even right before bed. I like how the compression seems to really help absorb my under-eye cream, and as a result, I noticed some improvement each morning in the puffiness and fine lines around my eyes. Was it because I was getting more sleep from being more relaxed or was it the massaging capabilities of the device that yielded such results? Hard to tell. Regardless I feel and look better and to me that’s a huge win.
I do prefer the less pressure option and very rarely select for the strong pressure setting, which I find a bit too aggressive for my liking.
My sister, who introduced me the product and has being using for a bit longer, is also impressed with the massager. She agrees that the compression-heat combo is her favorite setting and just uses the music provided, not even bothering to connect it with her smartphone. She’s a migraine sufferer and for her anything that provides her with any sort of relief is priceless.
Where I think there’s room for improvement
I’m not a huge fan of the vibration setting, which I think is too loud and a tad jarring. I also didn’t notice any relief from that setting and find it more distracting than anything else.
Keep in mind, this is also not a silent device and when I would use it without ambient music, I find it impossible to fully relax.
Also, it’s really important not to overuse the device — you should limit use to once or twice a day, max. I do notice that each time after using my eyesight is a bit blurry and takes some time to adjust which is why using it before bed makes the most sense for me.
I also wouldn’t mind a setting that really targets your temples, perhaps a temples only mode for those of us whose headache pain is strongest there.
It does take 3-3.5 hours to fully charge and I get about six 20-minutes sessions from one charge. Normally that would be okay, but when you’re traveling, remembering to charge yet another device can be a hassle.
One more thing, if possible, it would be great if the buttons weren’t all on the same side. When you’re laying in the dark it can be frustrating to find the right button to adjust the settings and I often find myself hitting the wrong one. Separating the buttons would solve that and thus yield a more relaxed experience overall.
Experts call this device “extremely helpful” for patients suffering from dry eyes and headaches
Of course, when you see a massager like this, the first question that comes to mind is: Is this a gimmick or is there any science behind it? Board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Diane Hilal-Campo says that “as long as they are not too hot or do not deliver too aggressive of a massage around the eye area, eye massaging tools like this one can be extremely beneficial, relieving eye strain as well as discomfort associated with dry eye.”
Hilal-Campo explains that massagers like the Renpho “gently manipulate” the delicate tissues surrounding the eye, and by massaging the muscles around the eyelids, they actually “relieve tension caused by strain and uninterrupted focus.” This is particularly important for people who are 55 and older who deal with more eye strain as vision changes and focusing close up becomes more challenging, Hilal-Campo explains. If you have dry eyes (a condition she estimates affects 43 million Americans) Hilal-Campo recommends investigating a device like this one.
Optometrist Dr. Meenal Agarwal also recognizes the value in a device like this one, which “can help stimulate tear production and reduce inflammation in the eye area.” She says the massager could be beneficial for those with “mild dry eye” symptoms as the device can help relax “the muscles around the eyes, promoting a sense of calm, improving blood circulation around the eyes and possibly help reduce dark circles and puffiness around the eyes.” However, Agarwal says that to treat “moderate to severe dry eyes” she would not suggest a device like this, which would simply “manage” symptoms rather than getting to the “root cause.”
Board certified dermatologist Dr. Kristina Collins stresses the value of this massager for women going through menopause, where lower levels of estrogen can trigger more headaches. Collins says that “an eye massager mask offers a non-pharmaceutical way to relax muscles, reduce tension and encourage rest, helping relieve symptoms tied to these hormonal shifts.” Collins also sees the benefit of a device like this one for relaxation and stress reduction, stating “the Renpho mask can lower stress levels, which in turn benefits skin health by reducing flare-ups of conditions like eczema or rosacea that are aggravated by stress.” She does advise using the device in “moderation” making sure patients adjust compression based on comfort levels and starting with “lower heat settings to prevent irritation.”
But doctors warn, this device isn’t for everybody
All of the experts consulted said that if you’ve had any kind of eye surgery, glaucoma, cataracts, retinal eye conditions, suffer from eye infections, skin conditions that can be aggravated by heat—you should definitely avoid using this device. (Something also expressed by the manufacturer.) Hilal-Campo also suggests speaking with your doctor before investing in this type of massager to make sure it is indeed “compatible with your needs.” She reminds people that there are limitations to what these devices are able to do and if you have worries about your eye health it’s important to see your doctor to investigate any potential eye conditions. Take a look at your daily habits and lifestyle, Hilal-Campo says, to ensure that you are doing everything you can to manage stress and eye strain.
My final verdict
Since getting this massager over a month ago I have noticed my eyes are less dry and my headaches less frequent. I also look forward to using it at the end of the day and relish my 20 minutes of kid-free relaxation right before bed. As Agarwal says, “If it makes you feel good, why not?” and I’m inclined to agree. Life is stressful and any little thing I can do to help alleviate that stress especially when it’s affordable and convenient, I’m all for.
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The Renpho Eyeris eye massager is well worth the price, especially when you find it on sale.
Meet the Experts
Dr. Meenal Agarwal, optometrist
Dr. Diane Hilal-Campo, board certified ophthalmologist
Dr. Kristina Collins, board certified dermatologist
