Cosmetics and the Ocular Surface: Redefining Standards in Eye Care
Transforming beauty into a science-driven tool for prevention, safety, and better surgical outcomes.
In eye health, true innovation lies in prevention. The intersection of cosmetics, skincare, and ocular surface health represents one of the most overlooked yet impactful aspects of patient care – and one urgently in need of disruption.
Epidemiologic data underscore the scale: over 90% of women under 55 use cosmetics regularly, and more than half of girls as young as 12 report using mascara, a product proven to affect the ocular surface. The rapidly growing male grooming sector shows that this is not a women-only concern but a global, cross-gender issue. Against this backdrop, the case for intervention is undeniable.
The recent TFOS Lifestyle Report, Impact of Cosmetics on the Ocular Surface, highlights how cosmetic ingredients and procedures exert toxic effects on meibomian gland epithelial, corneal, and conjunctival cells. Such exposures exacerbate dry eye symptoms, disrupt microbiomes, and increase infection risks (1). For patients, this has tangible consequences: ocular surface disruption can diminish outcomes following many surgeries or OSD therapies such as IPL or LLLT. Many patients ask, “Why am I still experiencing dry eye despite receiving gold-standard care?” The answer often begins with the cosmetics they use every day.
A New Category Built from Science Up
Mainstream beauty products remain largely under-regulated, with formulations rarely designed for ocular health. Recognizing this gap, Amy Gallant Sullivan – Executive Director and Co-Founder of TFOS – created Èyes Are The Story, the world’s first optocosmetics brand. Unlike conventional products adapted for sensitive eyes as an afterthought, ÈYES was conceived from the outset with ocular surface disease science. Each formulation is grounded in evidence-based research and engineered with eye health as its priority, establishing a new benchmark for safety and responsibility in beauty.
Differentiating Clinical and Lifestyle Care
For eye care professionals, ÈYES represents more than cosmetic safety – it is an extension of clinical care. Conventional products can undermine the very treatments physicians provide, compromising efficacy between visits. ÈYES bridges that gap, ensuring patients use products that protect results rather than erode them, aligning daily routines with therapeutic goals.
“As ophthalmologists, we see firsthand how cosmetics can compromise outcomes. The future of eye care demands evidence-based, eye-safe products that not only protect vision but also align beauty with long-term ocular health,”
Dr. Murthy
Early adoption underscores this potential. As Dr. Rachna Murthy, consultant ophthalmic and oculoplastic surgeon at FaceRestoration London, explains: “Patients expect optimal surgical outcomes and minimal downtime. With ÈYES, I can have patients ready for public appearances within days, and I’ve observed dramatic improvements in rosacea and sensitive eye conditions even before initiating other treatments.”
Preventive Care as Daily Practice
ÈYES reframes beauty as part of ocular wellness continuity. Much like daily toothbrushing preserves oral health, daily use of ÈYES safeguards periocular health. For post-op patients, ÈYES supports healing and preserves results. For long-term eye health, it reduces recurrence of disease, protecting the delicate ocular surface from cumulative lifestyle-driven damage.
Patients increasingly recognize this continuum: safe, science-driven beauty is no longer a luxury but a necessity for preventing ocular disease and sustaining treatment outcomes. ÈYES empowers them to play an active role in their eye health every day.
Leading Where Regulation Follows
The regulatory gap between the US and EU illustrates the stakes. While the US bans only 11 cosmetic ingredients, the EU restricts more than 1,300. ÈYES has already achieved approval in over 30 countries from Europe to the United States. By exceeding compliance standards and anticipating regulatory evolution, ÈYES demonstrates leadership where mainstream beauty lags.
Looking Ahead: A Multidisciplinary Paradigm Shift
The ÈYES approach is not confined to ophthalmology. Its implications extend into dermatology, aesthetics, and wellness – fields that increasingly converge on the importance of a healthy skin and ocular microbiome. As awareness grows, ÈYES offers a vision where ophthalmology, dermatology, and aesthetics align around science-based ingredient transparency and patient safety.
In an age that prizes longevity, wellness, and aesthetic confidence, ÈYES Are The Story represents more than a brand. It is a movement to make eye health the standard in beauty, shaping a safer, science-led future for patients and practitioners alike.
For more details, please contact info@essirilabs.com or visit eyesarethestory.com
* Rachna Murthy BSc (Hons) MB BS FRCOphth, Consultant Ophthalmic, Aesthetic, Oculoplastic & Reconstructive Surgeon, FaceRestoration.com; Allergan Medical Institute Faculty – Complications; Council Royal Society of Medicine (Ophthalmology Section). Previously Consultant Ophthalmologist, Oculoplastic & Reconstructive Surgeon, Cambridge University Hospital & East Suffolk NHS Trust.
References
- DA Sullivan et al., “TFOS Lifestyle: Impact of cosmetics on the ocular surface,” Ocul Surf., 29, 77 (2023). Epub Apr 13, 2023. PMID: 3706122.
