Understanding the Cornea: A Marvel of the Human Eye

Today, I want to share something fascinating about one of my favorite parts of the eye. The cornea is the transparent, dome-shaped surface that covers the front of the eye, and it's the very first place where light enters our eye, allowing us to see clearly. But beyond its role in vision, the cornea is an extraordinary part of our anatomy for a few other reasons.

The Cornea's Unique Sensitivity

The cornea is the most highly innervated tissue in the entire human body. Meaning it has more nerve endings than any other part of us. It's an incredible generator of pain, something we’re acutely aware of whenever we get anything in our eyes.

To give you a sense of just how sensitive it is, the cornea's nerve endings are 40 times more dense th...

Tips to Get Dry Eye Relief This Fall 

As the temperatures cool down this fall, it’s easy to forget that your eyes need a little extra care. When the chill sets in, many of us reach for the heater to keep cozy indoors. But while that heat keeps us warm, it can also dry out the air in your home, which in turn dries out your eyes. If you find yourself spending a lot of time in a heated room, here are some tips to help keep your eyes comfortable: 

1. Redirect Warm Air 

Whether you're using a space heater or central heating, make sure the vent isn't blowing warm air directly onto your face. The constant airflow can evaporate your eye’s natural moisture, leaving them irritated. Instead, aim the vent downwards. Blowing the are toward your feet or stomach will help you stay warm without dryin...

 I hope you've already watched my latest video on cultivating good eye habits, if not, catch it here. After all, taking care of your eyes is paramount, right? Your eyes are irreplaceable, the only pair you'll ever have.

That's why I'm thrilled to introduce you to the Eye Care Essentials Course, designed to guide you through the daily steps necessary for optimal eye health. And here's the best part: you can get this course for free when you purchase the Eye Care Essentials Kit, complete with all the products you need for your daily eye care routine. 

Now, let's dive into how we're going to turn these essential steps into lasting habits. Research suggests that if you commit to something for 28 consecutive days, it becomes ingrained as a habit. That's where tracking comes in handy.  Here a...

Sometimes my patients share cringe-worthy practices with me in my clinic. These are things they do with their eyes that they don't know are harmful. It's time to address these habits head-on. Let's talk about bad eye habits.

Winter can be the driest season of the year in many locations around the world. Having your heater on indoors combined with the lack of humidity outdoors can put a strain on your eyes ability to keep up with keeping themselves moisturized.

Here are a couple of tips to give your eyes relief during the Winter season.

1. Stay Hydrated: Winter air tends to be dry, both indoors and outdoors. Ensure you stay well-hydrated by drinking an adequate amount of water throughout the day. Proper hydration supports tear production, helping to keep your eyes moist and comfortable.

   The dry eye drink, is a sugar-free supplement that can increase your hydration 2-3 times more than by drinking water alone. This is an additive that you can add to your water to keep you hyper hydrated. Check out this blog p...

In the clinic, I get asked this question all day long, "What's causing my eyes to be so dry?" The short answer is that dry eye is multifactorial. It comes from many different causes. Some of the things we have no control over, like your gender and your age.  Women, especially those over 40, are more likely to have dry eye than men. And, we can't change our gender or age.  But, there are a ton of causes of dry eye that we can control.   

Let's talk about what you can take care or change to help our dry eyes. I like to break this down into three parts. I called it the EYE Method.  The first is E for Eyes. The Y is for Your Health. And, the final E is for the Environment. 

This week, we will take a deep dive into how your environment helps effects your dry eyes. 

E is for the Environment

Th...

In the clinic, I get asked this question all day long, "What's causing my eyes to be so dry?" The short answer is that dry eye is multifactorial. It comes from many different causes. Some of the things we have no control over, like your gender and your age.  Women, especially those over 40, are more likely to have dry eye than men. And, we can't change our gender or age.  But, there are a ton of causes of dry eye that we can control.   

Let's talk about what you can take care or change to help our dry eyes. I like to break this down into three parts. I called it the EYE Method.  The first is E for eyes. The Y is for Your Health. And, the final E is for the Environment. 

Let's look at each part.  Last week, I dove in to how the Eyes play a role in causing dry eye disease.  If you missed it,...

Happy 4th of July!  Summer is here.  Let's go over three great tips to take care of your eyes this summer.  As dry eye suffers, there is a new challenge with every season of the year.  In the winter, the air is dry.  In the spring, there is too much pollen in the air.  Both allergies and dryness play a role in your management plan. 

In the summer, there's a lot of light and many dry eye sufferers have sensitivity to light.  And, there may be some water sports that you want to be involved in.  I've got a few tips and tricks that you can use to be more comfortable.

Tip #1) Use Protection

Protect the skin around your eyes

Have you ever wondered what sunscreen is safe for you to use around your eyes?  Especially when your eyes are dry, they tend to be sensitive to everything.  Opulence Bea...

This week's blog is a continuation of the discussion I had with Dr. Pavly Moawad.  A. Pavly Moawad, MD, MRCSEd(Ophth), FICO is a Lecturer and Consultant Ophthalmologist at Cairo University Hospital in Egypt. In her ophthalmology practice she specializes in seeing patients with Sjogren's Syndrome. She has graciously agreed to share her vast knowledge on the subject of Sjogren's Syndrome with my readers.

In this part of the interview, I wanted to highlight how the eye doctor can determine whether you should be further evaluated for Sjogren's Syndrome, and the best treatment options for these patients.

Is there an Eye Exam to Determine Sjogren's Syndrome?

Sjogren's Syndrome attacks the glands that make secretions like tears and saliva.  So, the best test to determine if a patient has Sjogr...