As ZDNET's deals and shopping editor, I spend a lot of time staring at screens at odd hours - late nights during Prime Day, early mornings for product launches abroad. My eyes take a beating from blue light, screen time, and relentless editing. Over-the-counter meds don't always cut it, and obvious solutions like more sleep or less stress are apparently not on the table. So when a colleague suggested the Renpho Eyeris 2 eye massager, I was skeptical. Now it's my go-to when my head and eyes feel ready to tap out.
My colleague Allison Murray owns the original Eyeris 1 massager and finds it helpful for headaches and migraines. After her recommendation, I tried it with an open mind, fully expecting it to be a gimmick - the kind of thing you'd see on early 2000s infomercials at 2 a.m., sandwiched between the Betty Crocker Bake 'n Fill pan and Tony Little's Gazelle. To my surprise, it actually made a noticeable difference.
The Eyeris 2 slips over your head and secures with an elastic band. It offers massage, compression, and vibration, with adjustable compression intensity (two settings) and heat options: 104°F or a toasting 113°F to soothe eye puffiness. The heat is my favorite feature - like a big hug for your eyes wrapped in a heated blanket. It also includes Bluetooth, silent mode, and voice broadcast, though I rarely use those. Physical buttons for power, compression, heat, and music make it easy to operate once you get the hang of it, even if the first few tries involve turning it on before putting it on.
The rechargeable battery lasts about a week of moderate daily use, per Renpho - I don't use mine daily, but charging is infrequent. It comes with a storage bag, which is nice. But note the fine print: Renpho says to remove eye accessories (glasses, contacts, false lashes) before use, and advises against using it if you've had corrective myopia surgery or have conditions like glaucoma or cataracts. If unsure, talk to your optometrist.
I'm not saying everyone needs this. But for me, a full-time WFH employee, it's a genuinely helpful addition to my self-care routine. It won't cure all ailments or be magic, but as whacky wellness gadgets go, this one actually delivers.