Dry Eye Survival Guide for Road Trips: Tips to Keep Your Eyes Comfortable on the Go

If you’re hitting the road for a long drive, you might notice that your eyes tend to feel drier than usual. Whether it’s the dry air from the vents, long hours of focus, or just being on the move, road trips can be tough on your eyes. Here are some easy and practical tips to keep your eyes comfortable during your journey.

1. Pack a Dry Eye Spray

One of the best travel companions for dry eye sufferers is a dry eye spray, like Optase artificial tear spray. Formulated with the same moisturizing preservative-free tears we are accostomed to experiencing with an Optase product. This dry eye spray is quick and easy to use. It's perfect for on the go use. Simply spray it directly onto...

Valentine’s Day is all about love. Let's show our eyes some love too. Our vision allows us to experience life’s most beautiful moments, yet we often overlook the daily care our eyes need to stay healthy and clear. This year, instead of just focusing on chocolates and roses, let’s give our eyes a gift that will keep them working well for a lifetime.

I always remind my patients that a few simple habits can make a world of difference in maintaining eye health. I call these Eye Care Essentials, a four-step routine that takes just minutes a day but offers lasting benefits.

1. Hydrate: Refresh with Preservative-Free Artificial Tears

Just like our skin needs moisture, our eyes need hydration too. Using a preservative-free artificial tear helps refresh the front surface of the...

This winter has been anything but typical. Across the South, we've seen record temperatures and snowfall in places that rarely experience it. But for many of us, it’s not just the cold weather that’s affecting our eyes. The bigger problem is the indoor heat.

Why Does Indoor Heating Make Dry Eye Worse?

When temperatures drop, we naturally turn up the heat indoors. But heaters remove moisture from the air. And this creates a dry environment causing your eyes to sting, burn, and feel irritated. If you've noticed your dry eye symptoms worsening recently, your heating system might be the culprit.

Simple Ways to Keep Your Eyes Comfortable

 The good news? You don’t have to suffer through the season. Here are a few easy ways to combat dry indoor air...

Have you been thinking about refractive surgery, but you've been told that your eyes are too dry?  There are some newer procedures on the market that may be a better fit for your dry eyes. In this article, we will cover ICL surgery for vision correction. And, SMILE surgery will be covered in a future article.

EVO ICL: A Vision Correction Option

Refractive or Vision Correcting surgery is for patients who want better vision without the aid of contact lenses or glasses. The EVO Implantable Collamer Lens (EVO ICL) is an option for vision correction. This lens is implanted inside the eye and is designed to correct nearsightedness (myopia) and astigmatism.

What is the EVO ICL?

The EVO ICL is a small, implantable lens that works inside the eye. It stays in the eye permanently but...

As 2024 comes to a close, let's take a journey back through the year and re-visit some of the best blogs. I've chosen 3 blogs to highlight here. I place a snippet of them here. Each one will bring you closer to the dry eye relief you seek.

Blog 205: Good Habits to Support Dry Eye Relief

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. 

Prioritizing your eye health is a small yet impactful investment in your overall well-being. By incorporating these three essential habits into our daily routines, you not only promote clearer vision but also...

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...

Check out the recent Rent. article we were featured in: 

Creating a serene environment for your sleep sanctuary can make a world of difference when it comes to optimizing your sleep. With the right elements in place, you can foster an environment that promotes restful nights and happy days. 

In this Rent. guide, we’ll take a look at some tips to set up the perfect sleep sanctuary, whether you’re buying a home in Annapolis, or renting an idyllic San Diego apartment. 

Read the full article here: Creating a Sleep Sanctuary  | Rent.   

Here are a few Highlights:

Getting the right amount of sleep is important for our bodies to be able to maintain proper function and heal from the day's activities. When we do not get enough rest the systems in...

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...

Today we're diving into an important topic: sunscreen. As a dry eye specialist, you might wonder why I'm discussing sunscreen. The reason lies in a condition called ocular rosacea, which involves irregular blood vessels around the eyelids, leading to eye dryness. This condition is closely associated with facial rosacea, making patients more sensitive to the sun. Treatments for facial rosacea, such as intense pulsed light (IPL), require careful post-treatment sun protection.

To help us understand the importance of sunscreen and the differences between types, I've invited Rachel Downey, a health and wellness advocate with Crunchi. When browsing the sunscreen aisle, Rachel understand how overwhelming it can be to choose the right product. Here's what you need to know:

What's the...