Spring brings a burst of colors and fragrances, but for many, it also marks the onset of ocular allergy symptoms. Itchy, watery eyes and incessant sneezing can make enjoying the season a challenge. However, with a few proactive steps, you can alleviate these symptoms and embrace the beauty of spring with clarity and comfort.

How do you know if it's an allergy?

There are a couple of symptoms that are the same between dry eyes and allergies so it can be hard to distinguish between the two problems. However, timing seems to play a big part in ocular allergies. If you suddenly notice the symptoms below, it's most likely to be allergy. 

• redness
• watering
• Itching - this is the hallmark sign of allergy
• Eyelid swelling
• Mucus or stringy discharge
• Topical antihistamine eye drops improve sym
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Hello there, eye enthusiasts! Today, we're going to dive into a treasure trove of eye care products that'll make you want to give your peepers some extra TLC. If you've been following along on my eye-care journey, you know that I'm all about four simple steps to keep those windows to your soul sparkling. If your not sure which 4 steps I'm talking about, this blog will set you straight.  So, let's jump right into it and chat about some fantastic over-the-counter products from Bruder Healthcare that have recently caught my attention. 

Step 1: Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate! 💧 

First things first, it's all about hydration, my friends. We often recommend using artificial tears to add some much-needed moisture to the surface of our eyes. But here's a twist – Bruder has a unique way to hydrate your...

Traveling can be a little tricky when you have sensitive eyes or suffer from dry eye disease. There seems to be added environmental stressors around every corner when you are in a new setting. I travel often and I've developed a little kit of products that I'm always sure to grab when I leave town.

The last time I traveled I added a new product to the kit.  It's definitely going to be a staple of my daily care regimen whether I'm on the go or not.  I love this product so much that I don't just use it when I travel and its brand new, so I'm excited to talk to you about it. It's called Neutra Wipe from Tear Restore.

First, let's review the 4-simple steps to dry eye care:

1. Hydrate with an artificial tear
2. Harmonize with a lid and lash cleanser
3. Heat with a warm compress mask
4. Heal w
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It's almost Labor Day weekend, and many of you may be preparing for travel.  I have covered how to travel with dry eyes on a couple of blogs, but I wanted to give an updated version here.  Next week, I am traveling abroad, so I wanted to include a couple of tips for longer airplane travel and a warm compress mask that didn't require a microwave or an electric plugin.

It is very important not to skip out on your eye care routine even when you're out of town.  The results of missing a few nights of care can be disastrous.  I've been there.

I previously wrote a blog about traveling with dry eyes.  You can check out that blog here. It goes over specifically all the things you need to pack in your carry-on versus your checked bag.  And, if you'd like to learn more about some great travel read...

The cause of Dry Eye Disease is multifactorial.  This means that the factors that make it worse come from all around us.  It is our lifestyle, or the things you're, or are not, doing on a daily basis that can either improve or hinder your dry eye symptoms. 

Last month, I did a webinar with Scope Eyecare to explore how to deal with Dry Eye Disease while you're working.  Your computer and other digital devices can play a big role in how dry your eyes feel. Download the guide to Digital Eye Strain Relief here.

In this webinar, we took a deep dive into:

• How to know if you have dry eyes. Yes, there are tons of tests your doctor can do, but you can do this quick test to find out for yourself.
• Blink regularly and intentionally.  Close your eyes and intentionally squeeze the lids closed for
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Happy Holidays!  I hope this is a great time of year for you.  I understand how hectic gift giving and shopping can be.  I want to make it easier for you to choose gifts that you know your friends will love, but also that will be healthy for their eyes.

Today we're going to talk about giving gifts and giving the gift of good vision.  This is what I talk about all day every day, so I'm so glad you're here to listen. We are going to talk about what you would love to give your mother, your sister, your best friend that would be super special, awesome, and help their dry eyes.

I want everyone with dry eyes to feel that they're comfortable and that they can be soothed and you can pamper them, I've got some really great gifts that'll help you to pamper not only your loved one, but also your pe...

I want to talk to you about a simple hack to help you stay on track with your dry eye treatment. It's called habit stacking.  If you haven't heard of habit stacking, I'm going to explain it here.  And, I'll even tell you why it's the best way, I think, to incorporate your dry eye treatment into your daily life.

First, let me tell you a little story.  Many years ago, when I was pregnant with my second child, I had something called "Gingivitis of Pregnancy". It was awful. Every time I brushed my teeth, my gums would bleed.  Just the lightest scrub, and I would have a bloody mouth. It was so awful.

I went to dentist to ask what to do.  I was distraught.  My gums were bleeding all the time.  I could just touch them, and they would start bleeding.  My dentist said, I had to start flossing...

In this interview, I review the 4 Steps of Simple Dry Eye treatment plan and the importance of having a treatment plan that addresses the symptoms of your dry eyes.

Let me do a quick review for you here.

Step One: Hydrate - Use an artificial tear to give the front surface of the eye the moisture it needs to keep the eye healthy.

Step two: Harmonize - Using a cleanser for the lids and lashes on a daily basis will keep the bacteria living there in check.  Over population of bacteria will lead to redness and irritation.

Step three: Heat - A warm compress will help to melt the oils trapped in the oil glans lining the lid margins.  Once thee oil is able to flow freely out of the glands, the oil will coat the watery portion of the tears and prevent it from evaporating.

Step four: Heal - Ome...