Eyedolatry: February 2017

Put Down the Baby Shampoo

baby shampoo eyelid cleanser blepharitis 8:27 PM

Picture one of those typical doctor intake forms. Would you check a box beside any of these?

Red, scaly, crusty eyelids
Flaky debris along the lashes
Frequent and recurring styes or inturned eyelashes
Chronic redness, itching, watering, or irritation

If you answered yes to any of the above, you likely have blepharitis. Blepharitis simply translates as inflammation of the eyelid skin, but it's commonly associated with conditions like ocular rosacea and dry eye syndrome. And it's extremely common - studies suggest as many 47% of all patients that are seen by an eye doctor have some degree of blepharitis.

Blepharitis caused by Demodex colonies have a classic appearance of cylindrical dandruff or collarettes along the base of the lash root. via

For decades the go-to treatment recommendation for chronic blepharitis was eyelid hygiene with baby shampoo. The concept? The most common causes for blepharitis are skin bacteria like Staphylococcus epidermis and Staphylococcus aureus or eyelid mites Demodex brevis and Demodex folliculorum. These strains of bacteria are found naturally on human skin, and Demodex mites are also extremely common: studies confirm 70% of 18 year olds have Demodex mites living on their facial skin and over 84% of healthy adults over 60 have mites. Both skin bacteria and Demodex colonies thrive when there are more dry skin flakes and skin oils hanging around the eyelid surface, growing rapidly and often causing chronic irritation as their populations explode. It's a dangerous feedback circle: the more the body inflames in response to bacterial growth or Demodex infestation, the more it sheds the surface layers of skin, giving bacteria and mites more of what they love to live on.

Microscopic view of demodex mites at the base of hair and eyelash follicles via

Getting rid of dry skin and abundant skin oils is essential to minimizing the habitat for bacteria or Demodex, so doctors historically turned to baby shampoo as a "no tears" way to clean the sensitive eyelid area. The issue with baby shampoo is that the detergents and preservatives found within can actually promote skin irritation. Preservatives in baby shampoo like quaternium-15 chemically release formaldehyde, a known skin and eye irritant. Some research suggests that baby shampoo can interact with the eyelid's natural oil expression (meibum), turning it into a pro-inflammatory soap-like expression that is irritating to the eye and eyelid, a process called saponification.

A Better Alternative?
OCuSOFT lid cleansing products have the cleansing power to knock out skin bacteria and Demodex colonies, but are far more gentle and less irritating to the delicate eyelid skin than baby shampoo. Studies assessing ocular irritation on OCuSOFT products found that OCuSOFT Lid Scrub Plus was "practically non-irritating" to the ocular surface if not rinsed off in 1 hour based on Draize score data. Baby shampoo was rated category 3 or "mild irritation" on LVET (low volume eye test) Draize testing. OCuSOFT products are graded as 16 x milder than baby shampoo for eye irritation!

Not only were OCuSOFT products found to be more comfortable to the eye than baby shampoo, they also have significantly better bacterial kill rates. Studies on skin wound cleansing scored Johnson and Johnson Baby Shampoo as non-antibacterial at 24 hours against Staph. aureus at "cell-safe" levels, and additionally scored it with a high cytotoxicity index score (meaning it was considered highly irritating and damaging to healthy cells as well). OCuSOFT Plus lid scrubs have exceptional kill rates against common skin bacteria that are known causes of blepharitis, including Staph. epidermis, Staph. aureus, and even MRSA.

Our recommendation? For chronic blepharitis put down the baby shampoo and reach for a specific eyelid hygiene product. In my personal practice I recommend daily use of OCuSOFT Lid Scrub Plus for bacterial-based blepharitis until the eyelid inflammation is controlled, and then recommend use of daily lid cleansing products like OCuSOFT Original pads or foam longterm to help promote a skin environment that would be inhospitable to bacteria or Demodex infestation. Eyelid hygiene is part of my patients' everyday routine for clear vision and healthy eyes; you can't take a night off from caring for your eyes and delicate eyelid skin and expect your eyes to perform at their best level. OCuSOFT is gentle enough to be used as a daily cleanser for even sensitive skin types, and its strong enough to neutralize skin bacteria and help prevent chronic conditions like blepharitis and recurrent styes.

Wanting to learn more about all the products in OCuSOFT's line of lid cleansers? Head here

OCuSOFT is a platinum sponsor for Eyedolatry but all opinions are my own.

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Building the American Brand: Behind the Scenes at Gazal Eyewear

American eyewear 10:27 AM

Back in 2015 we profiled the story of husband and wife team Gazal and Saeed Tabrizipour, eyewear designers based out of Atlanta who were breaking on to the blossoming American eyewear scene. Two years later, they’ve continued to push boundaries and expectations as they launch new collections and work to open their first Gazal Eyewear flagship optical store in historic Roswell, Georgia. As private practice optometrists are increasingly embracing independent eyewear in the face of mergers and consolidations of name brand wholesalers that reduce competition, American consumers are also increasingly looking towards products with local origin stories and a focus on quality and craftsmanship. Here’s how the couple behind Gazal Eyewear is making a stand for independence in eyewear and inspiring other designers and eyewear enthusiasts with a dream to jump in!

Designer Gazal Trabrizipour and her husband Saeed are the dynamic duo behind Gazal Eyewear. You can follow their personal story - designing eyewear, outfitting their new flagship optical, and jetsetting around the world to trade shows with behind the scenes looks at the insider's world of optical design on their instagram account @gazal_eyewear

“I design only when I am inspired; when there is true feeling and love for something I would love to see and something that I would enjoy wearing myself,” says Gazal Tabrizipour about her process. “I always keep in mind the quality when trying to bring the drawings to life. I have worn glasses since I was a child and the comfort and durability level is just as important as the look.”

Her focus is clearly evident in their new 2017 collection, aptly titled Wicked. The inspiration? “To create something Wickedly comfortable, that keeps a clean yet luxurious look.” The collection features un-apologetically bold shapes that are statement making but still entirely wearable, and a focus on mixed metals and acetates that allow a pop of color without the bulky, heavy frame weight of a full acetate frame.

While the designs are created by Tabrizipour in Georgia, the material sourcing and manufacturing for her frames happens in Japan, the go-to manufacturing hub for high quality and light weight titanium metals. “We use a lot of titanium because the weight of the frames and durability compared to other metals makes a remarkable difference. I am very focused on the intricate details of each frame design so it is important to utilize the skillset of Japanese manufacturing to bring these details to life.”

Their latest photoshoot featuring Amy Roiland (@afashionnerd) was a collaboration introduced to Trabrizipour by Maarten Weidema. " It was great seeing Amy in all of our designs, she is the first model outside of my husband and I that has been part of the Gazal Eyewear collection."

2017 will be one of the biggest for Gazal Eyewear. They recently participated in a globe-trotting luxury eyewear marketing campaign with Maarten Weidema of the Eyewear Forum and model Amy Rolland. If their first major campaign shoot wasn’t enough, this year they are opening Gazal Eye Care Boutique in Roswell, GA. The flagship location will feature not only Gazal Eyewear designs, but also many of the best know names in the industry. “We are proud and eager to reveal the collections to the local community where the initial idea and history for Gazal Eyewear began. My husband and I met and lived in Roswell for years and dreamed of creating the eyewear line and the flagship boutique in historic Downtown Roswell for years. The community is fun, lively, and very artistic and we could not be happier to take part and add some additional history to its’ richness.”

The flagship Gazal boutique optical store will open later this year in Roswell, Georgia, but already the design aesthetic that has made Gazal Eyewear a success is on display. Exam rooms look sleek with sliding black doors embossed in gold, and the main optical space creates a pure luxury feel with recessed display shelves and uniform white walls and ceilings that let the frames take center stage.

Thinking about adding independent American eyewear design to your optical this year? Check out Gazal Eyewear in NYC at Vision Expo East this spring. “We would love to share all of our exciting news about our plans ahead of time, but we also hate to ruin a good surprise,” Tabrizipour says about their plans for Vision Expo. Like the best designers in the industry, she has us on the edge of our seats!

You can contact the Trabrizipours personally here to get more details about bringing this craftsman American designer brand to your optical.

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