Katherine M. Mastrota, MS, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO

Staying up-to-date on all things ocular is imperative in ocular surface disease.

Katherine M. Mastrota, OD, FAAO, advises on how to diagnosis this condition and not fall prey to a “knee-jerk” dry eye diagnosis.

Case gives new perspective on subconjunctival hemorrhages

Canine patient case study reveals a surprising diagnosis

The best dry eye instruments are often the doctor’s own ears

How carpenter bees got me thinking of follicular mites

Coconut and castor oils may be what the tear film lipid layer needs

Mask wear affects the ocular surface, periorbital region, and patient-physician relationship

Type and cause of the condition are important to discuss during the examination

Ocular surface disease is chronic, and collaborative care is key to treatment success

Preventative measures for dry eye include the entire body and brain

Managed patient flow, sanitizing, and HIPAA-compliant communication among new protocols

Asking patients about occupation can lead ODs into new diagnosis territory

Discontinuation of OAB medication dramatically improves the signs and symptoms of dry eye in a 65-year-old patient.

As people age, the desire to eliminate wrinkles and sagging skin increases. Blepharoplasty has become a popular option amongst the aging population, but some believe eyelid taping may be able to yield the same results.

Demodex has been associated with inflammation of the lid margin and eyelash loss in patients. Take a closer look at mites and microorganisms to consider if, in moderation, they may be beneficial.

The Precision Medicine Initiative offers a model to customize treatment for each individual patient. Katherine M. Mastrota, MS, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO explains why using precision medicine to treat dry eye disease can be beneficial for the OD and patient.

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are devices designed to deliver nicotine in a solution rather than smoke without tobacco combustion. Perceived by consumers as a safer alternative to conventional cigarettes, e-cigarettes are aggressively marketed as lifestyle-choice consumables.

At every age we need adequate, uninterrupted sleep for optimal, wakeful functioning. Insufficient sleep is associated with a number of chronic diseases and conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and depression.

The ocular surface encompasses not only the cornea, but the all-important supporting conjunctiva that is divided into the bulbar, limbal, palpebral, forneaceal, and marginal zones.

Recently, I was stopped in my tracks when I overheard a colleague comment that she was unaware that topically administered cyclosporine (Restasis, Allergan) increases goblet cell density.

Since I read Dr. Robert Latkany’s study on nocturnal lagophthalmos in 2006,1 I am perpetually on the lookout for it, especially in the patients who present with dry eye symptoms. Sometimes it’s easy to spot lagophthalmos-sometimes, if you ask your patient about lid closure, they will report to you that they know about their incomplete lid closure, mostly when they sleep.

You see them year after year in your chair: persistent cylindrical dandruff (CD), red lid margins, and eyelash distention. You've prescribed lid scrubs with baby shampoo, warm compresses, and even steroid/antibiotic combo drops, but nothing seems to resolve the condition. If this is the case, it's likely you are dealing with demodex blepharitis.