More Than Meets The Eye: The Role Of Esthetics In Optometry

Most patients go to the optometrist to have a vision screening, get help with medical emergencies, or go shopping to pick out a gorgeous pair of glasses; however, have you heard of going to the optometrist to treat your skin?

Ocular Rosacea

Rosacea is a vascular condition characterized by dilated blood vessels at the surface of the skin. This leads to excessive redness that can be triggered with stress, food and drinks, and environmental factors, all of which are unique between individuals with this condition. Common treatments, such as medication and lifestyle changes, can temporarily manage symptoms but do not address the underlying conditions.

Ocular rosacea can significantly impact both the health and function of the eyes. Common signs include chronic redness of the whites of the eyes, irritated eyelids, and recurring styes, all of which can cause ongoing discomfort and inflammation. If left untreated, this chronic inflammation can lead to dry eye disease. Persistent dry eye may damage the ocular surface, resulting in blurred or fluctuating vision, reduced visual quality and increased sensitivity to light.

Optilight and Optiplus

You want to focus on treating the underlying condition to alleviate symptoms and improve overall ocular health.

Optilight is an intense pulsed light (IPL) device that can effectively reduce the appearance and symptoms of rosacea. This is a noninvasive procedure done in-office with little to no downtime; most people come on their lunch break and return to work with minimal redness. Pulses of light seal off abnormal blood vessels reducing inflammation and irritation around the eye, while the heat of light helps melt hardened oil, skin cells, or debris left in the oil glands of the eyes.

Optiplus uses radio frequency to stimulate oil glands and improve oil production. Most patients with dry eye have clogged oil glands that don’t allow for natural expression, leaving a gritty feeling in the eyes. While Optilight uses pulses of light to address inflammation, Optiplus uses bulk heating to liquefy any material that is preventing the eye from naturally lubricating itself. Combined with manual expression of the eyelids, Optiplus helps the glands to secrete oil naturally again.

Welcome to the Esthetics Industry

To maximize and maintain the benefits of OptiLight, a consistent skincare routine is essential. Supporting the skin barrier after treatment helps minimize irritation and reduce flare-ups, while regular maintenance facials allow an esthetician to monitor skin health, address any emerging concerns, and recommend personalized treatments that help prolong your OptiLight results.

As the fields of optometry and medical esthetics continue to progress, patients can benefit from a comprehensive approach to both eye and skin health. By combining professional in-office treatments with a personalized at-home skincare routine, patients can enjoy long-term dry eye relief alongside healthier, glowing skin — all at their local optometrist.

Woolf Eye Lab is located at 2446 Mountain Road in Pasadena. Call 410-255-8056 or email Megan at megan@woolfeyelab.com for more information.