Simplifying the Patient Conversation

Dr. Brujic: The Lumify Eye Illuminations line has simplified the patient conversation for me and has given me a very clear direc­tion on what I should be recommending. We now have clear paths on how to educate patients on the scientifically backed products to clean their eyelids and eyelashes after a day of wearing makeup.

Three Questions to Ask

Dr. Periman: I recommend just three simple questions to include on the intake questionnaire, or to ask in the exam room to start the conversation on cosmetic use:

• Do you remove your makeup every night?
• What kind of products do yoau use to clean your makeup off?
• Tell me more about the products you use on your lashes?

Take-Homes and Patient Resources

Dr. McGee: Educating your patients about what’s in their beauty products, and how to best care for their lashes and periocular skin, is a worthwhile investment. We are a resource to help them choose the right kinds of products and reinforce good habits. In addition to the conversation I have with patients regarding all of this, I also send them home with a QR code linking to lists of ingredients and items to avoid. It can be hard to cover everything in the exam room, so having external resources available helps.

Good Eye Hygiene Is Important For Men, Too

Dr. Said: Admittedly, up until recently, I did not have a daily eyecare regimen. But with the guidance of my wife and three daughters, I realized the importance of good ocular periorbital skin area health. So now I do have a better daily regimen. My go-to is a good lid wipe that I use every day to remove any kind of debris or allergens that are around my eyes.

Infection? Foreign Body? Or Just Bad Cosmetics?

Dr. Wesley: When a patient comes in with a red and irritated eye, most of us probably jump to conclusions about the possible causes—and I bet none of them are “cosmetics.” Of course, we have to rule out all possible factors, but once you’ve done that, it’s a natural progression to talk about what they’re putting in and around their eyes every day that could be causing these problems. It’s important to examine the whole person and everything that’s happened to them when considering potential causes of redness and irritation.