Tiktok Dermatology: The Good, The Fad & The Ugly | Kristina Collins, MD
As a mom of three, I get it — my own 11-year-old has a skincare fridge that puts mine to shame. She doesn’t even have a phone, yet she already knows the brands, the routines, and the influencers. It’s wild. But as a doctor, I also know that not everything trending on skincare TikTok is safe for kids’ skin. That’s why I wanted to talk with Dr. Kristina Collins — to separate what’s harmless and even healthy from what’s just hype.
Lash Serums Explained: What Works, What’s Risky, and What to Avoid
One of the questions I get most often—usually asked in a whisper—is about lash serums. And I get it, it feels trivial. But it’s not. Lash serums are medicated, and they can cause real changes to your eyes. I used them too—and learned the hard way why that matters.
Digital Detox for Kids: Resetting Screen Time Habits | Michael Jacobus
As a mom of three, I see how much screens shape my kids’ world — from homework to friendships to how they relax. But lately, I’ve noticed something deeper: screens aren’t just stealing time; they’re reshaping how kids feel. In this week’s episode of In Focus, I sat down with Michael Jacobus, founder of Reset Summer Camp, to talk about what screen addiction really looks like in teens — and how families can help kids reconnect with the real world again.
How to End Screen Time Tantrums Without Power Struggles
As a mom of three and a pediatric ophthalmologist, I’ve seen screen time from both sides — the medical and the emotional. I don’t believe in banning screens, but I do believe in setting thoughtful, science-backed boundaries that help kids learn self-control and protect their vision. In this post, I’m sharing the exact checklist, apps, and daily systems that have made screen time more peaceful (and a lot less guilt-filled) in our home.
Why Kids Melt Down When Screens Turn Off (And How to Calm the Chaos) | Gabie Izralson PsyD
There have been moments where I’ve told my kids to turn off their screens and instantly regretted it — not because I didn’t mean it, but because I knew what was coming next: the tears, the frustration, the full emotional unraveling. For a long time, I felt powerless against the pull of screens. But as Dr. Gabie Izralson reminded me, we’re actually the ones in control. Once I reframed that, everything shifted. I stopped seeing screens as the enemy and started seeing them as something we could manage — with structure, communication, and a little more grace for everyone involved.
How Screens Affect Your Child’s Vision, Sleep, and Brain
I see this all the time in my clinic—and in my own home. As both a pediatric ophthalmologist and a mom of three, I know how overwhelming the screen time battles can feel. We all want to protect our kids’ health, but between conflicting studies, endless advice, and the sheer pull of technology, it’s tough to know where to start. That’s why I always turn back to the research and then ask: how do we actually make this doable in real life?
What's That White Spot in My Kid's Eye? | Jesse Berry, MD
I sat down with Dr. Jesse Berry, director of Ocular Oncology at CHLA, to talk about retinoblastoma—a rare childhood eye cancer that can first appear as a white reflex in photos. We discuss what parents should watch for, how it’s diagnosed, and the treatments that can save not only a child’s vision, but their life.
Why Glasses Are Making Your Child's Vision Worse
I see kids every single day who come in for glasses, only to need a stronger prescription year after year. Parents often wonder if the glasses are actually making things worse—and the truth is, in some ways, they can. In this blog, I’m breaking down why nearsightedness progresses, what new research shows about traditional lenses, and the exciting advances in glasses that can actually slow myopia in children.
How I've Kept My Kids Vision Perfect 20/20 as a Pediatric Ophthalmologist
As a pediatric ophthalmologist and mom, I get asked all the time why my kids don’t wear glasses—even though my husband is very nearsighted. The truth is, I started them on low-dose atropine eye drops years ago, before they ever needed glasses. In this post, I share why I made that decision, the science behind treating “pre-myopia,” and what it’s been like balancing evidence, parenting, and prevention in real life.
How One Doctor Mom Tackled Myopia in Her Kids | Shieva Ghofrany, MD
As a pediatric ophthalmologist, I see firsthand how quickly nearsightedness can progress in kids—and why it’s about more than just glasses. In this episode, I talk with my friend Shieva Ghofrany, MD, a mom of three and high myope herself, about the real-life challenges of starting myopia treatments for her children and why she made it a non-negotiable. If your child’s prescription keeps increasing, this conversation will help you feel informed and empowered.