Latest news with #TheDryEyePodcast
Forbes
26-06-2025
- Health
- Forbes
Dr. Selina McGee On Better Eye Health, New Treatments
Eye health As screen time soars and eye strain becomes a daily norm, a growing number of Americans are seeking answers for persistent eye discomfort—often unaware that they may be suffering from a chronic and underdiagnosed condition: dry eye disease. In a recent interview on The Dry Eye Podcast, Dr. Selina McGee, an optometrist at Bespoke Vision in Edmond, Oklahoma, about the FDA's approval of a promising new treatment and why dry eye care is finally having its moment. A Growing Patient Population McGee sees a rising tide of patients walking into her clinic with classic signs of dry eye—burning, fluctuating vision, and chronic discomfort—yet many still don't realize it's a medical condition. 'People often reset their expectations and assume eye discomfort is just a normal part of life. But if you're constantly aware of your eyes, that's a red flag,' said McGee. Even more misleading? Watery eyes. While it may seem counterintuitive, excessive tearing can be a symptom of dry eye. 'Those are reflex tears,' McGee said, 'not the nourishing, stable tears we need for visual comfort and health.' The Basics of Better Eye Health Beyond pharmaceuticals, McGee emphasizes 'visual hygiene' as a cornerstone of eye care. Her go-to advice: Follow the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds—and blink consciously. Stay hydrated: Chronic dehydration is a common contributor to dry eye symptoms. Get sleep: 'Our eyes heal at night,' she said. 'Skimping on rest means your eyes can't recover.' The Road Ahead McGee says TRYPTYR (by Alcon) is expected to become commercially available in the U.S. later this year. Prescribed as a twice-daily drop, it offers a new option for those seeking fast-acting, lasting relief. While dry eye remains a chronic condition, McGee says the goal of treatment is simple: 'When you're no longer thinking about your eyes all day, that's when we know we've done our job.'
Forbes
11-06-2025
- Health
- Forbes
Dry Eye Is on The Rise — What You Can Do About It
Dr. Yuna Rapoport, Manhattan Eye Dry, itchy, irritated eyes? You're not alone. In an era where screen time dominates our days and environmental stressors are everywhere, dry eye disease is becoming increasingly common—and disruptive. 'It seems like it's as prevalent as ever,' says Dr. Yuna Rapoport, MD, MPH, founder and director of Manhattan Eye. 'More and more people are spending more time on screens and have sort of unhealthy habits at home.' On a recent episode of The Dry Eye Podcast, Dr. Rapoport shared why dry eye is often misunderstood, how to get a proper diagnosis, and the latest treatments helping patients finally find relief. Many patients think their fluctuating vision or discomfort is a simple case of needing new glasses or contacts. 'They come in thinking their prescription is off,' says Dr. Rapoport, 'but it's actually their dry eye that's causing the problem.' Dry eye symptoms can range from burning and itching to a sensation like sand in the eye. It can even cause blurry vision and difficulty wearing contacts. Yet the root causes vary—and identifying the type of dry eye is crucial. Some people have evaporative dry eye (where the tears don't stay on the eye long enough), while others have aqueous deficiency (where not enough tears are produced at all). Dr. Rapoport emphasizes that seeing an eye doctor early is essential. 'Instead of self-treating and using lubricating drops,' she says, 'we're able to get to the core cause right away and save you months of trial and error.' If at- home treatments don't bring relief, she often turns to advanced prescription therapies like Cequa or Tyrvaya, and sometimes recommends in-office procedures for longer-lasting results. For many, in-office procedures can be the key to real relief. 'A lot of patients say, 'You can do a procedure in the office and that's going to minimize the amount of work I have to do at home? Let's do that,'' she says. Some of her go-to treatments include: 'These aren't just surface-level solutions,' she explains. 'They actually help cure the underlying disease.' Dr. Rapoport has seen transformative results firsthand. One patient, an athlete training for a marathon, suffered from severe contact lens-related keratitis. 'She couldn't run in glasses,' she recalls, 'and couldn't wear contacts anymore. We did a refractive procedure called SMILE, and now she is training again—dry eye-free.' Another patient battled chronic styes and blepharitis. 'We did a series of IPL and radiofrequency treatments, and it (helped) their glands,' she said. 'Now they don't get styes, their vision is clear, and their symptoms are gone.' Of course, prevention is still part of the equation. Dr. Rapoport recommends following the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds. She also advises lowering your computer screen below eye level and using lubricating drops throughout the day. And when it comes to contact lenses? 'Dailies are better than monthlies. But if you can, switch to glasses at home—or consider LASIK.' Dry eye may be common, but it's not something you have to live with. With the right diagnosis and treatment plan, comfort and clarity can be restored. For more insights, listen to The Dry Eye Podcast with Julie Loffredi featuring Dr. Yuna Rapoport.
