Many of my patients ask me about using artificial tears.  There are so many of them on the market.  It's hard to know which ones to use.  

Based on the research provided by the Tear Film and Ocular Surface (TFOS) Society, I advocate using Artificial Tears on a daily basis to care for your dry eyes.  TFOS wrote a report called the Dry Eye Workshop (DEWS II) Report that utilized the expertise of 150 clinicians and scientists from around the world to compile all of the literature available in the dry eye space and write a consensus on how to treat dry eyes.  

The TFOS DEWS II report advises using 4 steps to care for your dry eyes daily:  

1. Every day, the first step is to hydrate your eyes with an artificial tear.
2. The second step is to clean...

A few weeks ago, we talked about Demodex mites in the eyelashes and how I don't recommend the use of tea tree oil anymore to remove those Demodex mites. There is a new study out of Harvard Medical School indicating that Tea Tree oil is toxic to the cells of the meibomian glands. You can read the original article here.

Demodex mites normally live on human eyelids and lashes. These are microscopic and you can't see them with the naked eye. Below is a super magnified image of the Demodex mite. They have little mouths and they bury themselves inside of the lash follicle. Their little tails hang out at the top of the follicle. If you know you have an overgrowth of Demodex mites you will need an in office treatment or use a daily cleanser to get rid of them.

How do you know if you have a...

I'm happy to be back to provide a little follow-up on my magnetic lash experience. If you missed it, I previously gave an in-depth and honest review of my thoughts while wearing Opulence MD Beauty magnetic lashes in a separate blog that you can go check out right here. 

Once you're caught up to speed, read on for a step-by-step guide on how to clean your magnetic lashes to ensure that your lashes AND your eyes both stay in tip-top shape.

After getting, even more, wear out of magnetic lashes since my last blog post, I can confidently say that I still love these lashes for 1) the durability and 2) the plethora of lash styles that Opulence MD Beauty offers for any occasion. These magnetic lashes have phenomenal staying power...

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...

I'm going to talk today about a question that my patients ask me all of the time: "How can I wear my contact lenses during allergy season?" "They're itchy, they're red, they run water all over the place, I don't know what to do, I can't get my contacts in!" I've got three tips for you today on how to wear your contact lenses during allergy season.

Tip #1) Take a Break

Tip number one: Take a break! You don't have to wear your contact lenses every day! I know you don't want to hear this, but maybe just during this season, save them for special occasions. Wear them occasionally. Wear them less time during the day, take them out when you get home, or only wear them when you're going out. Take a little break.

Tip #2) Wear a Daily-disposable Contact Lens

Number two, wear a...

It's Springtime, and we've been talking a lot about how to take care of yourself during the spring. If you missed it, the last blog was all about Springtime allergies, how to avoid them, and a couple of tips on how to treat them.

Now that we know that we should just avoid Springtime allergies, we're going to dive into what to do about your eyes when you're suffering from allergies. I've got three tips for you today on how to treat your eyes when you're suffering from Springtime allergies and maybe even still have dry eyes to kind of compound the fact.

Tip #1) Artificial Tears and Cool Compresses

Use artificial tears and a cool compress. We've got right here, a cool compress. You're going to just have that ready in the freezer and then you can come home and lay that over the eyes....

This week, we have a guest blog by Kristen Steward to learn all about pollen allergies.  If you would like to read the blog in its original format, you can check it out here.

Otherwise, just keep reading...

Many people welcome spring with its warmer weather, longer days, and blossoming flowers and trees. For the more than 26 million Americans who suffer from allergic rhinitis including pollen allergies, however, this season can be full of misery.¹

WHAT IS POLLEN?

Pollen is a very fine powdery substance that’s usually yellow in color. It’s generated in a structure on the end of the stamen (the male reproductive part of the flower) known as the anther and its purpose is to fertilize other plants in the same species. In order for pollination to occur, pollen grains must be...

A question a lot of people have been asking me online, and in the office, is, "How can I wear eye makeup when my eyes are dry?" It's a really important question, because you don't want to make your dry eyes worse by surrounding your eyes with powders and ingredients that could irritate or cause damage to your eyes. 

Many of my patients experience red, irritated eyes from improper use of makeup.  They complain that their makeup just seems to run down their face by the end of the day.  There are a couple of easy to implement tips to know to make makeup wear possible for your sensitive eyes.  I've got FIVE tips to show you how. Llet's get started.

#1) Take a Break

I hate to start with this one, but if your eyes are truly inflamed and irritated, you may have to...

Demodex mites.  This is a tricky topic to bring up with my patients.  The truth of the matter is that with age, we all have some Demodex mites living on our eyelashes.  For some reason (science still isn't sure why) these mites are normal to have on our lashes.

Yet, this topic always gives my patients the heebie-geebies.  I want to reassure you all that having them on your lids doesn't mean you are an unclean person.

And, going overboard trying to rid them from your eyes can cause more problems than just the irritation of having them.  So, slow down.  Don't freak out.  Let's discuss these Demodex mites....

What are Demodex Mites?

Demodex is a small mite that buries itself into the follicles of the eyelashes and eyebrows.  This mite is in...

WooHoo!  We made it to 100 Blogs!  I am so grateful that you are here with me.  We couldn't have done it without you, the readers.  Join me as we review the best posts of the past 100.  Let's dive in...

Most Referenced Blog: 4-Step Dry Eye Relief Plan

There is a 4-step treatment process that I recommended my patients to do at home for the maintenance of healthy eyes and eyelids.  Utilizing these 4 steps is a daily regimen to give your body the support it needs to function properly.  Taking these steps daily will help you to restore and maintain healthy, comfortable eyes and clear vision.

Hydrate, Harmonize, Heat, and Heal: Performing all 4 steps on a daily basis will go a long way in healing your eyes and helping them to stay healthy,...