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3 Ways to Reduce Eye Redness

Oct 24, 2019
 

This past week, I got an up-close and personal reminder of how painful inflammation can be.  I was out on my morning run.  It is by far my exercise of choice for getting the blood flowing and clearing my mind.  

Well, I must not have been thinking about my feet because all of a sudden I was face down on the asphalt.  Ugh.  I rolled on to my back and saw stars all at the same time.  I am a true believer in the discomfort of inflammation.

Do you remember last week when we went over the 4 steps to alleviate your dry eye symptoms?  They are hydrate, harmonize, heat, and heal,  If you want to go back and review that blog again, just click here.

The fourth step - heal has to do with reducing inflammation.  I suggest taking an omega fatty acid supplement called HydroEye by ScienceBased health....

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4 Simple Steps to Alleviate Dry Eyes

Oct 16, 2019
 

Several years ago, I began to struggle with dry eyes.  This was at a time when I lived in a very dry climate, and I wore contact lenses most of the time. My eyes would get dry towards the end of my workday, and I couldn’t wait to take them off when I finally got home.   

Most days a couldn't stand to wear eye makeup.  I knew there must be a better way to live.  I couldn't go on with the feeling of wanting to claw the contact lenses from my eyes before 5 pm. 

I began to research how to keep moisture in my eyes longer.  I played around and tried every contact lens and contact lens cleaning solution on the market.  I definitely have my favorites from that experiment, but there was still something missing.   

Since then, I’ve read articles, attended lectures, and even written a book on the...

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Zocular

Oct 11, 2019
 

This past weekend, I was able to attend a great event for dry eye practitioners in Central California. Some of the industry's greatest thought leaders were there including Scott Schachter, OD, Peter Pham, MD, Tim Trinh, OD, and Lisa Wahl, OD.


It was really great to reconnect with some of my colleagues and people who have influenced my career greatly.  I was re-introduced to a product that I have been using in my office for about a year now. It is called Zocular.

If you have been reading this blog for a while, you know that I often recommend using a lid and lash cleanser.  Lid and lash cleanser is an important step in my 4 step process to alleviate your dry eye symptoms. Please check out my book, Alleviate Dry Eye, to learn more about this process.


Zocular is a gentle but powerful lid ...

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Are your Dry Eyes Making you Look Old?

Oct 02, 2019
 
This past weekend I attended a conference. I think I shared with you a month or so ago about how I love to spend time with other dry eye experts. So, when I get the chance to be in the room with 30 or more experts my excitement rises.
 
If you don’t remember the day I spent with an ocular plastic surgeon, Dr. Bryan Vekovius, you can revisit the blog here.
 
This time, I spent the day with Drs. Melissa and Rolando Toyos.  This powerhouse couple consists of one of the world's most prolific dry eye experts, Rolando Toyos, M. D., and Biochemist and oculoplastic surgeon, Melissa Toyos, M. D.  
 
These two experts shared their knowledge and their latest research to a room packed with dry eye experts from around the world. There were doctors from Europe, Australia, Canada, and the US.  I fe...
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Want to Write a Book?

Sep 21, 2019
 

Have you ever thought about writing a book?  Joseph Epstein, “81 percent of Americans feel that they have a book in them — and should write it.”  It makes it sound like there are many aspiring authors out there.  So, I thought I would share a little bit about my journey to being an author. 

The book that I have published is actually not the book that I have dreamed about publishing for decades.  So, maybe there is still another book in me.  I can understand that many of you may have a dream of a book in your mind, or maybe 5 books.  I wanted to share with you 3 tools you need to write a book.

 Tool #1 - Know How to Write a Book

I used an online program.  They took me through the process step by step:

https://self-publishingschool.com//how-to-write-a-book

 I had a coach who kept me acc...

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Which doctor is best to treatment my dry eyes?

Sep 18, 2019
 
Who is the better doctor for treating your dry eye symptoms? Would it be an ophthalmologist or an optometrist?  I’m sure at this stage you are curious to know who in your community is would be the best at treating dry eyes.  And, maybe you are confused about the difference between an optometrist and an ophthalmologist.  Aren't they both eye doctors?  Is there really a difference?
 
Yes, there is a difference. Optometrists (OD) are doctors to have a significant portion of their training in studying vision.  They are the experts when you want to improve your eyesight with glasses or contacts lenses.  They also prescribe medications to treat diseases and do some medical procedures.
 
Ophthalmologists (MD) have had a significant portion of their training in treating eye diseases with medic...
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3 Worst Things Dry Eye Sufferers do with their Contact Lenses

Sep 10, 2019
 

My patients will sometimes tell me that they can’t wear contact lenses because their eyes are too dry.  There have been tons of innovations in both contact lenses and contact lens care in recent years.  For the most part, the idea that you can't wear contact lenses when you have dry eyes is a myth.  

Sometimes, not being able to wear contact lenses will be a short period of time while you are undergoing dry eye treatment is true for a short while.  But, my goal is always to find a way to get my patients back into contact lenses or have some kind of refractive surgery, if they are a good candidate - read this blog here.  Some patients do need to take breaks from their contact lenses because of years of abuse they have put their eyes through.  These are the three worst things patients can d...

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The 3 Worst Things you do with your Mascara

Sep 04, 2019
 
As an eye doctor, I get up close and personal with women's eye makeup every day.  I routinely use a microscope to examine the eye.  This can make the eyelashes about 20 times bigger than the way you see them in a regular mirror.
 
The horrors I see on people's eyelids are incredible.  Makeup caked up into the lashes and in the corner of the eye is only the tip of the iceberg.  That built-up gunk leads to inflammation, irritation, and infection over time.
 
Here are the three biggest beauty blunders I see women committing with their mascara:

1. Sleeping with it

Not removing your eye makeup at the end of the day is one of the worst things you can do for your sensitive eyes.  After all, you wouldn't go to bed without brushing your teeth, right?  The same risk of cavities applies to the ...
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Are my eyes too dry for LASIK?

Aug 28, 2019
 
I have dry eyes, can I still have LASIK? This is a question I’ve been asked quite often as an eye care professional.  I myself have dry eyes, but I also have had refractive surgery. The key to having a successful refractive surgery is knowing that you have dry eyes ahead of the surgery.
 

What is Refractive Surgery?

 
The word refraction refers to the fact that you need to wear a prescription to see your best, 20/20.  Refractive surgery then refers to any surgery which helps you to achieve better vision without wearing an external vision correction like glasses or contact lenses.  
 
RK or radial keratotomy is a refractive surgery that was once popular but is no longer being performed.  RK does not offer results as stable as LASIK and is no longer being performed.
 
PRK (Photorefra...
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Healthy Contact Lens Week

Aug 20, 2019
 
This week is Healthy Contact Lens Week, August 19 - 23. The CDC, Center for Disease Control, wants you to remember three things about contact lens care. If you have ever had an eye infection you will understand that keeping your eyes healthy truly is the most important thing in life.  Having an eye infection can completely stop you in your tracks.
 
 

Tip 1: Revitalize your Eyes

 
Contact lens wear, when done responsibly, can be easy and comfortable.  Contact lenses need to be part of your vision correction plan, not the entirety of it.  You must have a pair of glasses, even if they are not the greatest pair.  Your eyes need a break from wearing contact lenses every day.  Do not sleep in your contact lenses.  
 
If you have read my book, Alleviate Dry Eye, you know I have a few ru...
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