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Eye Irritation from Mascara & Eye Makeup

Eye Irritation From Mascara and Makeup Use

Here’s a question we get asked pretty frequently: Is my eye irritation from makeup use? As eye doctors, it’s something important to consider for any of our patients that use eye makeup and mascara products.

In short, it’s unlikely that you’ll experience vision problems from using eye makeup – but it is possible. Let’s outline the basics.

How Can Eye Makeup Hurt My Eyes?

Since everyone’s eye needs and makeup use routines are different, there’s a lot to be aware of. It boils down to being careful, being clean, and being safe. When it comes to your eyes, you only get one pair, so make sure you take care of them if you use eye makeup!

Below are the top things our eye doctors think you should be careful about.

Irritation and Infection From Contacts

If you wear contacts, your mascara or eye makeup can get into your contacts and ruin the integrity of the lens. This can cause an infection. Make sure you put your contacts in before applying mascara or eye makeup. Be extra aware of the sterility of your hands and lenses.

Scratched Cornea During Application

It’s serious and it’s all too common – scratching the corneas happens when people are not careful when applying mascara. Scratching a cornea can lead to dangerous infections, so make sure to be careful when applying mascara or makeup.

Try to avoid applying eye makeup or mascara in the car – that’s one of the most common places where people will scratch a cornea.

Avoid using mascara that uses fibers to thicken and lengthen the lashes. The fibers may fall into the eye, scratching the cornea.

Tips & Insights: The Benefits of Receiving LASIK Eye Surgery

Allergic Reactions to Eye Makeup

If you’re sensitive to certain materials or are known to have allergic reactions, you should always test makeup before putting it on to avoid eye irritation. Some brands will label their makeup as hypoallergenic or ophthalmologist-approved. If you’re having allergic reactions in your eyes to makeup, you should talk to an eye specialist about your options.

Sleeping in Mascara

Some makeups have non-toxic components, like glitter, that could cause irritation, especially if it gets into your eyes while you’re sleeping.

We cannot stress this enough – remove your makeup at the end of the night before you sleep. Try not to fall asleep with any makeup on – especially anything near your eyes.

Eye Irritation From Expired Makeup

A lot of people tend to ignore the expiration dates on their makeup and mascara – but the reason that they’re in place is that makeup tends to have preservatives in it to keep bacteria from building up inside of it. The preservatives do not work after the expiration date. Do not keep expired makeup. The eye irritation is not worth it!

Can Mascara Cause Pink Eye?

If you share your makeup with others or don’t clean your makeup brushes, bacteria can grow. This can cause a bacterial infection, such as conjunctivitis, more commonly known as pink eye.

Make sure not to share your makeup, especially with people who have been around others with bacterial infections.

Also, make sure to properly conceal your makeup when you’re done using it. If you’re using dry makeup, you may be able to sanitize it with alcohol wipes. Be aware that some makeup may dissolve in alcohol.

Caring For Your Vision With Specialty Eye Institute

Our team of ophthalmologists and doctors is committed to preserving and maintaining your vision. Our doctors offer a variety of vision care treatments such as cataract surgery, blepharoplasty treatments, corneal transplants, presbyopia treatments, and LASIK eye surgery. Give our team a call by phone at (877) 852-8463 or book an appointment online to receive support. Our staff will help you choose surgery or treatment that aligns with your issues.

Tips & Insights: Available Cataract Surgery & Treatment Options

Chalazion Treatment & Self-Care

What Is A Chalazion?

A chalazion is a benign bump inside the eyelid. These cyst-like nodules form around the meibomian oil glands and lead to red swollen eyelids. Unlike a stye, it’s farther back on the eyelid, and is generally painless, though it may be unsightly. Chalazion treatment can be done at home so most of the time, there is no need to see an eye doctor.

What Causes Chalazion?

A chalazion forms when one of the small oil glands in the eyelid becomes blocked. These glands (meibomian glands) play a role in keeping the eyes lubricated. When a gland is obstructed, it traps oil and starts to swell. Over time, the fluid drains, irritating the surrounding eyelid skin. This irritation can result in a firm lump filled with oil and fluid on the eyelid.

Monitoring Chalazion

While anyone can get a chalazion, they tend to be more common in 30-50 year-olds and people with rosacea and blepharitis.

While many chalazia drain on their own, it’s important to monitor them and see your eye care provider. They can swell and even cause vision problems including temporary astigmatism or blurry vision.

Chalazion Self-Care and When To See A Doctor

Most Chalazions drain by themselves, so unless they start to pain you, you probably don’t need to seek treatment. However, you can get blurry vision and inflammation from them. If you wear contacts, it could be very painful to correct your vision. You may need to see an eye doctor to clear a chalazion faster.

Treatments for a chalazion include:

Warm compresses
Antibiotics
Steroid shots
Surgery

Schedule An Appointment With Specialty Eye Institute

If you’re experiencing blurry vision or inflammation, schedule an appointment with one of our eye doctors. We’ll make sure that you get the treatment that you need for relief from a chalazion.

What is Tunnel Vision? The Causes & How to Treat It

Astigmatism

As you’re reading this right now, can you see objects to your left or right? Or is your vision constricted into a circular tunnel? If unable to see objects to the left or right, you may have tunnel vision, also known as peripheral vision loss. Those with tunnel vision cannot see peripherally. They have to turn their heads to look at them head-on. If you are wondering what tunnel vision is, we have created a list of its causes, treatment options, and conditions.

Keep reading to learn the causes and the treatment options available to you.

What is Tunnel Vision?

Tunnel vision is a condition where a person loses their peripheral (side) vision while retaining central vision, making it seem as if they are looking through a narrow tube or tunnel. This can make daily activities like driving, walking in crowds, or even reading more difficult, as objects outside the direct line of sight become harder to detect.

What Does Tunnel Vision Look Like?

Tunnel vision alters how a person perceives their surroundings by restricting what they can see outside their central field of vision. While some experience a gradual darkening or blurring of their peripheral vision, others may have a sharp cutoff, similar to looking through a straw or a dark tunnel.

The severity of tunnel vision varies by individual. Some may retain a small degree of peripheral vision, while others experience a nearly complete loss of side vision. If you’re experiencing symptoms of tunnel vision, an eye exam and diagnostic tests can help determine the cause and potential treatment options.

What Causes Tunnel Vision?

Although the following conditions could lead to tunnel vision, the best way to determine the exact cause is to consult with your eye doctor.

1. Cataracts

Cataracts form as part of our aging process and simply put is the clouding of the natural lens in the eye. A nuclear cataract can damage the edges of the lens, leading to tunnel vision. Symptoms of cataracts include blurred vision, double vision, light sensitivity, a yellowish tint to objects, and difficulty seeing at night.

2. Glaucoma

Glaucoma is the buildup of pressure and fluid in the eye's drainage canal. With this pressure, the optic nerve can be damaged. A damaged optic nerve can create blind spots and lead to tunnel vision. In addition, other symptoms include blurred vision, light halos, eye pain, and nausea.

3. Retinal Detachment

The retina sends images through the optic nerve to the brain where they are interpreted. If the retina tears or detaches from the back of the eye, it can lead to blurred vision, tunnel vision, or blindness. Floaters in vision can restrict peripheral vision, which you can experience as tunnel vision.

4. Choroideremia

This rare genetic disorder mainly affects men and leads to vision loss over time. The symptoms start with difficulty seeing at night, followed by blind spots that affect peripheral vision, experienced as tunnel vision. Over time, the field of vision continues to shrink and can result in blindness.

5. Brain Injuries

Both concussions and strokes can be causes of tunnel vision. During a brain injury like a stroke or concussion, blood flow to the brain is disrupted. The brain does not have enough oxygen, and dizziness and peripheral vision loss can occur.

6. Hallucinogenic Drugs

Drugs that contain hallucinogens such as LSD, ecstasy, magic mushrooms, and more can alter perception. While this does wear off, the effects can lead to temporary or permanent peripheral vision loss.

Treating Tunnel Vision

Losing peripheral vision can affect your quality of life. It makes everyday tasks incredibly difficult. Luckily, depending on the cause of your tunnel vision, there are treatment options available.

Treatment Options for Cataracts

If your eye doctor has determined cataract is the cause of your tunnel vision, surgery could be your best option. During cataract surgeries, your natural lens, which has become cloudy, is replaced with an intraocular lens.

Traditional Cataract Surgery is performed by an expert ophthalmologist. This technique is safe, efficient, and does not require stitches.
Laser Assisted Cataract Surgery is performed using a highly-accurate laser to create a precise incision. This can also reduce the effects of astigmatism.
Bladeless Laser Refractive Cataract Surgery has revolutionized cataract surgery through the use of femtosecond lasers. Each individual’s eye characteristics are taken into account, allowing for even more precise results.

Treating Glaucoma

Following a glaucoma diagnosis, your eye doctor may prescribe eye drops to reduce the pressure. Depending on the severity of glaucoma, laser or traditional eye surgery may be required to drain the fluid build-up.

Reattaching the Retinal Tear

The majority of patients with retinal detachment need surgery to reattach the retina to the wall of the eye. The goal of retinal detachment surgery is to hold the wall of the eye and the retina together until the scarring can heal the tear.

Pneumatic Retinopexy does this by injecting a gas bubble into the space between the wall of the eye and the retina.
Vitrectomy removes the vitreous gel and replaces it with a gas bubble.
Scleral Buckling inserts a flexible band called a scleral buckle around the eye to hold the retina in place.

Tunnel Vision Care From the Eye Specialists

Having tunnel vision is frustrating and difficult. Not to mention, it can upend your daily life. Our team of eye doctors and ophthalmologists offer eye care solutions to help you preserve and improve your vision. Our doctors provide innovative eye care treatments such as LASIK eye surgery, retinal detachment treatments, cataract surgery, astigmatism treatments, and refractive lens exchange surgery. The eye doctors and ophthalmologists at Specialty Eye Institute are here to diagnose the cause of your tunnel vision. In addition, we will create a treatment plan that meets your requirements. Your vision health is our top priority. Schedule your exam with an eye expert. Schedule Appointment online or by calling (877) 852-8463.

Book An Appointment With Our Team Of Ophthalmologists & Doctors

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Botox Around The Eyes: What To Expect, Benefits, & Results

What is Botox?

While Botox has been used for cosmetic procedures, such as lifting fine lines and wrinkles, its ability to safely paralyze muscles and nerves also has great medical benefits. That’s because it contains a purified neurotoxic protein that stops a certain neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, from leaving your nerve endings. An advantage of receiving Botox injections around the eyes is reconstructing areas you’re unhappy with.

They also aid in the alleviation of symptoms caused by health conditions. These include excessive sweating, uncomfortable neck muscle spasms, and issues around the eyes. To help you decide whether or not Botox treatments are the correct discussion for you, we have created an outline of what to expect, treatments, and results.

Common Botox Treatments Around The Eyes

When it comes to your vision, cosmetic and medical Botox injections can be placed around and under the eyes to treat conditions such as:

• Eye Twitching
• Drooping Eyelids
• Chronic Migraines
• Eye Dryness
• Excessive Tearing

Many plastic surgeons are trained in both medical and cosmetic Botox. This means you don’t necessarily need to find another oculoplastic professional if you’re interested in getting both options! If you are receiving a Botox treatment, you can expect to improve or eliminate issues including frown lines, crows feet, forehead lines, and sagging brows.

How Long Do the Results Of Botox Last Around the Eyes & Other Areas?

Technically speaking, Botox is only a temporary solution. This means you would need to go back into your Botox clinic every so often to get another treatment done and maintain optimal results. Medical and cosmetic Botox treatments are designed to impact the targeted muscles for three months. However, you may be able to visually see the results of Botox treatments for four to six months.

What to Expect From Botox Treatment Around The Eyes

There’s a lot you should take into consideration before typing “Botox near me” into your search engine. You don’t want to randomly pick just any Botox clinic for your procedure! We recommend researching the procedure, preparation, treatment, and recovery beforehand. Read on to find out exactly what to expect from a Botox clinic before deciding to move forward.

Before Your Botox Injections

Before getting Botox injections, you’ll need to set up a consultation at an accredited eye clinic in your area, such as Specialty Eye Institute. Here, you can meet with an expert oculoplastic surgeon to share your cosmetic or medical concerns and learn about what customized Botox treatment options are available to you.

At the Botox Clinic

If you haven’t had Botox injections in the past, it’s normal to be nervous going into your first Botox treatment. Rest assured—you’ll be in great hands under the care of a board-certified SEI oculoplastic surgeon.

Following your consultation, your eye doctor will use a thin needle to inject small amounts of Botox into the skin, muscles, and/or nerves around your treatment areas. Because of the tiny needle, Botox quantity, and quality of care at SEI, you shouldn’t expect to feel any pain: only minimal discomfort.

The number of injections you receive will depend on the severity of your eye condition, the type of Botox, the surface area of the treatment location, and other factors.

After Your Botox Treatment

Botox treatment recovery is typically quick, as long as you follow the doctor’s orders. You may notice small red bumps right after you receive your Botox injections. Those tend to fade within the first 20 to 30 minutes following your Botox treatment.

Should you develop a headache after your Botox treatment, consult with your doctor and see if you can take acetaminophen. Try to refrain from taking aspirin or other blood thinners otherwise.

It’s recommended to avoid physical activity for at least four hours. You can wait longer depending on how you’re feeling. Be sure not to rub, massage, or touch your eyes for at least 24 hours so you don’t push the Botox and spread it into other areas. As always, listen to the recommendations provided to you by your doctor for the smoothest recovery.

Botox Treatment Results

The results of Botox treatments will take a small amount of time to become noticeable. You should not expect to see visual improvements right after leaving the clinic. Results can take several days, or weeks, to appear depending on the type of Botox treatment you receive. Remember—you’ll need to adjust your muscles to be more relaxed at the injection site(s) to make the most out of your new look or enjoy your improved eyesight.

When you begin to notice your condition slowly return, usually between three to six months following your Botox treatment, it’s time for a touch-up. Setting up a recurring Botox treatment schedule with SEI makes it simple to keep yourself or your vision in tip-top shape.

How Much Does Botox Cost?

Costs vary from one eye practice, or Botox clinic, to the next. Though for the most part, you can assume that a medical Botox procedure has a higher chance of being covered by your insurance than a cosmetic one.

The cost of Botox itself is priced per unit. The cost of each injection is between $10 to $15. For example, a cosmetic forehead smoothing procedure takes an average of 20 injections. You could pay anywhere from $200 to $300. These injections tend to be more cost-effective than surgery—especially surgery on eye muscles.

Cosmetic and Medical Botox Treatment at SEI

When it comes to your eyes, you don’t want to take a chance on just any local Botox clinic. Our team of doctors offers innovative Botox treatments to clients in your area. In addition, our staff provides innovative blepharoplasty surgery and treatments to accommodate your unique needs. Our team is committed to offering premium eye care services to help you improve or preserve your vision. Our staff of ophthalmologists and doctors offer various types of eye care solutions such as cataract surgery, retinal detachment treatments, LASIK eye surgery, refractive lens exchange treatments, and corneal transplants. Give our doctors a call by phone at (877) 852-8463 or contact our team online to learn more about how our Botox treatments and eye care solutions can improve your vision and life.

Specialty Eye Institute Named One of West Michigan’s Best and Brightest Companies to Work for, the Second Year in a Row!

The National Association of Business Resources (NABR) has named Specialty Eye Institute (SEI) as one of West Mic higan’s Best and Brightest Companies to work for the second consecutive year in a row. SEI was recognized for demonstrating exceptional innovative human resource practices.

An independent research firm evaluates companies based on compensation, benefits and employee solutions; employee enrichment, engagement and retention; employee education and development; recruitment, selection and orientation; employee achievement and recognition; communication and shared vision; diversity and inclusion; work-life balance; community initiatives; and strategic company performance.

“As we move into a new chapter after COVID-19 and discover more about the “new normal” we look forward to continuing to be inspired by our employees and what they can handle to support the well-being of our patients and each other. Receiving this award, is another example of how proud I am to be working alongside such remarkable talent,” says Kathleen Fox, PHR, Director of Human Resources at Specialty Eye Institute.

About The Best and Brightest Companies to Work For®:

The Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® is a program that identifies and honors organizations that display a commitment to excellence in operations and employee enrichment that lead to increased productivity and financial performance. This national program celebrates those companies that are making better business, creating richer lives and building a stronger community as a whole.

Interested in a career with Specialty Eye Institute, visit our career page.