Today, I want to share why using soap and water isn't efficient for cleaning your lids and lashes. If you've been following me for a while, you know that I always talk about four simple steps to take care of your eyes daily because when you learn to take care of your eyes today, your vision will last a lifetime. Taking care of our eyes is as essential as taking care of our hair, skin, and teeth. Our eyes are irreplaceable, and we need to ensure they serve us well for life.

Many of my patients say, "Yeah, I wash my eyes in the shower," or "I clean them when I wash my face." But why isn't soap and water enough? There are bacteria and mites that live on our lids and lashes—everyone has them, and it's completely normal. However, for those of us who suffer from dry eye disease, our lids and la...

Today, I'm diving into a real discussion on Demodex mites and how they cause redness and irritation to your eyelashes. Yes, you heard that right! These microscopic critters love to make themselves at home in your eyelids and lashes, and you probably never even knew it. Let's talk about the Demodex mite who too small to see with the naked eye. 

Meet Demodex: Your Uninvited Eyelash Guest 🦠 

The demodex mite lives on the lash follicles of your eyes. Everyone has a few of these tiny party crashers living on our lids and lashes. It's perfectly normal! Learn more about this condition, Demodex blepharitis, here.

But here's the kicker: sometimes, these uninvited guests become over populated on your eyelashes, and that can lead to symptoms like irritation, redness, watering, lash thickening...

In 2021, I was invited to serve as a member of the Public Awareness Committee for the TFOS Lifestyle Workshop. This is a global initiative where doctors, scientists, and researchers come together to gather information and make recommendations. The purpose of the Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society’s newest workshop was to produce evidence-based education about the lifestyle choices patients are making which cause ocular surface disease.  

The purpose of these TFOS workshops is to gather the known evidence-based research and compile it. This helps to gather a consensus from research to help guide treatment protocols. It also answers questions about disease progression and uncovers areas that have not yet been fully researched. In fact, each subcommittee report has a section to suggest whe...