I had scheduled what I thought would be a very simple, routine in-person meeting with my local sales representative from a well-known dermatology brand. The purpose was straightforward: a quick update on products my patients often use and that I’ve long recommended for sensitive skin.
However, when the representative arrived I was surprised to see that the company’s territory manager had accompanied them – her name never appeared in any of the email exchanges or meeting invites. Moments after I briefly stepped out to see a patient, the tone in my office had changed dramatically.
When I returned, I found the territory manager in my dispensary – standing beside a growing pile of products, asking one of my staff for a large trash bag. Without hesitation she began filling it with every bottle of the company’s once widely recommended facial cleanser.
Her words were brisk and absolute:
“This cleanser contains forever chemicals. Corporate policy mandates it must be removed and discarded immediately.”
Within minutes, an inventory worth hundreds of dollars – products I had trusted and recommended to patients – was gone, hauled out in trash bags to the dumpster behind my clinic.
I was stunned. There were no prior warnings, no detailed explanation, and certainly no professional dialogue. I stood there speechless, trying to reconcile what had just happened.
The science behind the shock
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) – often referred to as "forever chemicals" – have been used for decades in consumer products, including cosmetics and skincare, for their water- and oil-resistant properties. They are now known to persist in both the body and the environment, accumulating over time and linked to endocrine disruption, immune dysregulation, and carcinogenic potential.
From an ophthalmic perspective, these compounds – along with many preservatives, surfactants, and endocrine-active ingredients commonly found in skincare – can wreak havoc on the ocular surface. The TFOS Lifestyle Workshop on Cosmetics documented that such ingredients can:
Induce meibomian gland dysfunction through epithelial cell damage.
Destabilize the tear film by disrupting lipid integrity.
Injure corneal and conjunctival cells, even at concentrations far below accepted regulatory limits.
The sensitive skin myth
The periocular region is particularly vulnerable. Products applied to the face – even at a distance from the lids – can migrate, seep into the tear film, and disrupt the delicate ocular surface environment, leading to persistent irritation, inflammation, and worsening symptoms of dry eye disease (DED) that no amount of in-office therapy can fully counteract.
Many of my patients, despite receiving gold-standard care for dry eye, continue to struggle with symptoms because of their daily skincare and cosmetic habits. In many cases, their eye discomfort begins not in the clinic but at their bathroom sink.
The need for preventive, science-based skincare
If a long-trusted, dermatologist-endorsed product can be deemed unfit overnight, how many more products are currently in circulation with ingredients that may one day meet the same fate?
It’s time to move:
From skin-safe to eye-safe.
From regulation-compliant to science-driven.
From reactive recalls to preventive innovation.
The future of ocular-safe beauty
As I often say, “Èyes Are The Story is truly leading what should be our new North Star in modern eye health.”
Their approach – working directly with scientists to formulate products free from PFAS, parabens, retinols, and many other ocular irritants – represents precisely the direction our field must take: proactive, evidence-based, and uncompromisingly safe.
Lessons from a trash bag
As ophthalmologists and eye care professionals, we must lead by example:
Ask patients about their skincare and makeup routines.
Educate them about ingredient risks and the importance of eye-safe alternatives.
Recommend products founded in ocular science, not marketing.
Because true beauty should never come at the cost of eye health.
