For optometrists, the focus has always been simple—it’s all about the health of the patient’s eyes. But what does that fully entail? Is it just the posterior and anterior segments of the eye?

    At the American Academy of Optometry 2023 conference, a roundtable of leading optometrists and ophthalmologists, hosted by Bausch + Lomb for its Lumify Eye Illuminations product portfolio, began their discussion with just this question.

More Than Just the Eyeball

April Jasper, OD (moderator): As physicians, we are typically looking at eye anatomy from the perspective of the posterior and anterior segment, but we may not be clinically considering the guidance we provide to our patients for the outer anatomy of their eyes, specifically the periocular skin, lashes, and eyebrows.

Laura M. Periman, MD: When I went through training, I was all about “Is there a cataract?” I dove straight for the lens and missed everything else. Over the course of training and doctoring for a very long time, I came to realize that there is so much more than the lens. Yes, there are the eye surface structures, but there are also the lids and the periocular anatomy. The entire face. The entire person. People are not just a set of eyeballs; we have to think bigger. 

Selina McGee, OD, FAAO: When I initially started down the ocular surface pathway and became very passionate about dry eye disease, I would start at the cornea. But then you realize how much interaction the lids play, so you move out even more and realize how the facial structure supports the lids. I would challenge us, as a profession, to think bigger and to look outside of the eye before evaluating the surface and before we ever look in.  

Osama Said, OD: As eye doctors, if we aren’t going to help patients with cosmetic selection, who will? A primary care doctor doesn’t make these 
recommendations. Dermatologists generally don’t either. We have to own this space, and I think our patients are asking for advice and we have to be able to provide recommendations.
    
Gina Wesley, OD, MS, FAAO: It’s an important dialogue to have. In the early days, your main concern is that you are taking care of the eyeball, and then you begin to realize how much your patients don’t know, and what they won’t know until you take the opportunity to educate them. 
 
Mile Brujic, OD, FAAO: Early in my career, I realized treating illnesses like allergic conjunctivitis is not just a medical issue, but also potentially a cosmetic issue. It was a reminder that people not only want to be symptom free, but they also want to take precautions that are not going to prematurely age the skin around their eyes. We are not just delivering true medical care to these patients, but we have a cosmetic component built into our practices.

    These industry leaders all agree: There is more to treating the eye than just the eye itself. Eyecare professionals need to take control of the eye beauty conversation. It starts with asking the right questions and providing the right education to patients so they can prevent cosmetic-related complications. 

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