Today, I'm diving into the world of dry eye relief and exploring a brand-new solution that's making waves in the eyecare world. Say hello to Miebo, the recently FDA-approved medication from Bausch + Lomb, designed to treat dry eye symptoms. But before we delve into this exciting development, let's take a moment to understand the intricate layers of our tear film. 

The Three Layers of Tear Film 

Your tears are more than just salty droplets that express your emotions; they're a complex blend of three crucial components: 

• Watery Layer: This layer coats the front surface of your eye, providing moisture and nourishment. 
• Mucus Layer: The mucus layer serves as a foundation, holding the watery layer in place. 
• Oily Layer: The final layer, produced by your meibomian glands in the eyelids, a...

Focusing on these three essential habits are of the utmost importance in maintaining healthy eyes. Let's cultivate good habits around eye hygiene this month, it's important to pay special attention to the well-being of our eyes. Afterall, they are the only pair we'll ever have. 

Tip 1: Remove Your Contact Lenses 

Remove your contact lenses before any of the three "S"s. Never leave your contact lenses in your eyes while:

1. Showering
2. Swimming
3. Sleeping

Removing your lenses prior to these three S's ensures you keep your eyes in top shape. Each of these activities increases your risks of sight threatening eye infections. Always removing contacts before any of these situations will reduce your risk of complications and maintain healthy habits.

The most effective contact lens cleanser o...

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 an earlier blog, I discussed the importance of using a warm compress mask as part of a daily treatment regimen for dry eyes.  However, some of my patients find it hard to use a mask because of a facial condition they have.  The condition is called Acne Rosacea.  It is quite common in light skinned folks or those with heritage from Northern European countries.

 Acne Rosacea causes irregular blood vessels to form on the skin.  If you have rosacea on your cheeks, there is an 80% chance that you also have rosacea on your eyelids.

 When these irregular blood vessels are close to the eyes, they bring inflammation to its front surface.  This inflammation fuels to cycle of dry eyes.

 My patients that have rosacea, are not fans of using warm compresses because they can cause these blood ves...

Over the last few years, the number and styles of warm compress masks have exploded.  There are masks that you microwave, plug in to a computer, track with an app, use once and throw away, and even a mask you can wear while continuing to watch TV or scroll social media.  It's amazing what our imaginations can design.

Using a warm compress mask is part of the 4-simple steps I recommend to all of my patients when starting a dry eye treatment regimen.   

I recommend using four simple steps daily to treat your dry eyes.  If you're not sure what I mean by each of these steps, you can refer to this blog for a deeper explanation.  Here's an overview of the steps:

1. Hydrate: Use an artificial tear to refresh and replenish your tear film.
2. Harmonize:  Cleanse the bacteria populating you
...

Women want to have beautiful eyelashes.  Sometimes, they even want to wear eyelash extensions to have a more glamorous look.  My patients ask me a lot of questions about wearing eyelash extensions.

Often, my patient's eyelashes aren't as long and glamorous as they used to be. Dry eye occurs when the meibomian glands, which are the oil gland in our lids, aren't working properly. The glands aren't producing the oil that coats the tear film.  The oils also condition the eyelashes and makes them stronger. 

Since many of my patient's lashes are short and tend to be brittle, they are always asking me about wearing extensions.  At this time, there is only one eyelash extension I can say yes to. 

The problem is that a lot of the lash extensions on the market these days will do harm to your dry ...