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How Tea Tree Oil Can Enhance Your Ocular Hygiene Routine

(I-MED Pharma)

Eye care professionals understand the importance of having a daily ocular hygiene regimen for patients who are experiencing eye irritation, dryness, discomfort, or other symptoms of Dry Eye Disease. Many patients are unaware that the lack of cleanliness of their eyelids and eyelashes may be contributing to the dry eye symptoms that they are experiencing and often don’t have the necessary eyelid hygiene products to keep them clean. 

At I-MED Pharma, we’re a leading provider of dry eye and ocular surface disease products. Our line of I-LID ’N LASH® products can enhance your patients’ ocular hygiene regime.  I-LID ’N LASH® PLUS is recommended for patients requiring more intensive cleansing of the periorbital region. A unique quality of I-LID ‘N LASH® PLUS is that it contains tea tree oil (TTO), a natural oil that is renowned for its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Continue reading to learn more about the benefits of tea tree oil and how it can enhance your patients’ ocular hygiene regimen.

What Is Tea Tree Oil?

Tea tree oil is a natural oil that is derived from the leaves of the Melaleuca Alternifolia tree, a woody, shrub-like tree which grows in Australia. Tea tree oil contains nearly 100 different components and it is believed to have anti-inflammatory, anti-protozoal, and anti-bacterial properties. TTO is a safe and effective ingredient. Its natural skin-sanitizing benefits cleanse away dirt, bacteria, and toxins, leaving the skin feeling healthier and more hydrated.

How Do Tea Tree Oil Products Benefit Ocular Health?

Due to its natural ability to help kill bacteria, demodex mites, and other culprits that can lead to eyelid infection, inflammation, and dry eye, tea tree oil has received much attention from the optometry and ophthalmology communities. Eye care professionals can help patients who frequently experience eye inflammation, styes, ocular rosacea, and symptoms of dry eye by recommending ocular hygiene products that are formulated with tea tree oil. These products can be used to help reduce the symptoms of these eye problems in a safe, effective, and healthy manner.

Tea Tree Oil Can Help Defend Against: 

  • Demodex – When patients have a buildup of itchy, sticky, yellowish discharge at the base of the eyelashes, it could be a result of a demodex infestation. Demodex mites are tenacious and unwanted eight-legged invaders that can reside in hair follicles and sebaceous glands in the lid margins. If not properly diagnosed and treated, a demodex infestation can lead to eye itching, burning, dryness, irritation, or watering; patients may also experience blurry vision, the feeling of heavy eyelids, and other discomforting symptoms. Fortunately, tea tree oil also has excellent concentration-dependent Demodex-killing properties.
  • Blepharitis – Blepharitis is an inflammation of the eyelids in which they become red, irritated, and itchy with dandruff-like scales that form on the eyelashes. Blepharitis is very common, especially among patients who have oily skin, dandruff, or acne rosacea. Patients with blepharitis may experience a gritty or burning sensation in their eyes, excessive tearing, itching, dry eyes, red and swollen eyelids, or crusting of the eyelids. The anti-infective properties of tea tree oil can effectively reduce inflammation and improve other Blepharitis symptoms that patients may be experiencing. 
  • Dry Eye Disease – Demodex and blepharitis are both conditions that, if left undiagnosed and untreated, can lead to Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD), a common cause of evaporative dry eye. MGD occurs due to a blockage, or some other abnormality of the meibomian glands that renders them unable to secrete enough oil into the tears. These canal-like glands are in the eyelids and often become clogged, leading to inflammation. Adding a consistent eyelid and eyelash regimen with a tea tree oil formulation can help patients keep their eyelids and eyelashes clean and clear while helping manage conditions such as Demodex, Blepharitis, and Dry Eye Disease.

Why Use Tea Tree Oil Formulated I-LID ’N LASH® Products?

With the incredible benefits tea tree oil offers for ocular health, patients suffering from eye inflammation, dryness, or discomfort resulting from conditions like Demodex, Blepharitis, and Dry Eye Disease should consider incorporating tea tree oil formulated products into their ocular hygiene regime. The I-LID ’N LASH® PLUS line of ocular hygiene products offers the solution that eye care professionals with these patients need. I-LID ’N LASH® PLUS cleansing wipes are formulated with 5% TTO and can be used daily to clear ocular debris from the eyelids and eyelashes.  Daily use of the I-LID ’N LASH® wipes is recommended to help mitigate the risk of future dryness and discomfort. While these dry eyelid wipes do not contain TTO, they are effective in maintaining lid and lash health for patients with dry eyes or sensitive skin.

Tea tree oil formulated products are increasing in popularity in the optometry and ophthalmology communities. Eye care professionals who want to provide their patients with safe and effective products for enhancing their ocular hygiene routine should consider I-MED Pharma’s line of I-LID ’N LASH® ocular hygiene products. For more information, check out our line of I-LID ’N LASH® products.