Dr. Brissette is an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City and the Founder of Daily Practice Eye Care. She is also the guiding ophthalmologist for Clinique.

1. Please share with us your background.

Canada-born and -raised, I came to New York City for fellowship and ended up staying. I focus primarily on cataract and refractive surgery with an interest in cosmetics. Recently, I partnered with Clinique to be their first guiding ophthalmologist to help with educational content and new product development. I am a spokesperson for the AAO, and I love public speaking and educating to help spread awareness about healthy vision practices.

2. What is the main focus of your efforts outside of clinical care?

I truly believe that there is a close link between aesthetics and eye care. Unfortunately, many cosmetic products and procedural interventions around the eyes are not always safe and approved by ophthalmologists. I believe that we need better information and education around the safe use of cosmetics for the eye area. For these reasons, I started my company, Daily Practice, to deliver ophthalmologist-developed skin care that is safe for use around the eyes. My first product, an eyelid cleanser called Eye Revive, launched in 2022. and we have new products coming out early next year.

3. What has your experience been collaborating with industry?

Collaboration with industry has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. These partnerships allow us to be on the forefront of new technology and treatments in our field and offer our expert insights to help change and shift perspectives. When I do surgery, I enact change at a small level for my community; being able to collaborate with industry allows me to enact change on a much larger scale.

4. In your opinion, how is the role of women in ophthalmology evolving?

I feel so fortunate to have had excellent female mentors and sponsors in this field. I think there are many more women from my generation who are making incredible contributions, and I have seen a shift away from male-dominated speakers and thought leaders to a much more balanced voice that reflects the whole of our specialty.

5. What hurdles do you feel women in health care still face? 

I hustled a lot early in my career and said yes to many conference invitations, travel, and other work outside of my full-time job. Having just had my first child, I can see how taking a step back can sometimes feel like being left behind. I think making your goals and desires known to those around you and curating your yes answers for the events that truly excite you is a good way to stay involved without sacrificing your new priorities at home.

6. What advice can you offer to young female ophthalmologists who are still in training or just beginning their careers?

Speak up about what help you need! Whether you like research, education, industry collaboration, etc., often people are looking for new faces and voices to get involved. Speak to others in this field and let them know you are interested in opportunities if they present themselves. Once asked, make sure you do an excellent job, and more and more opportunities will come your way.

7. Can you propose a unique or creative idea that may help women in ophthalmic practices?

Find hobbies outside of medicine and ophthalmology. Medicine can be all-encompassing sometimes, so taking breaks and having opportunity for other outlets is a great way to ensure that you are grounded and taking care of yourself as well as your patients. 

PUBLISHED WORKS

Peer-Reviewed

• Port AD, Brissette AR, Sippel KC. A case of the blues: inadvertent ocular injury from accidental instillation of blue ink. Am J Ophthalmol Case Rep. 2020;19:100773. Ratzlaff TD, Diesbourg TL, McAllister MJ, et al. Evaluating the efficacy of an educational ergonomics module for improving slit lamp positioning in ophthalmology residents. Can J Ophthalmol. 2019;54(2):159-163.
• Verjee MA, Brissette AR, Starr CE. Dry eye disease: early recognition with guidance on management and treatment for primary care family physicians. Ophthalmol Ther. 2020;9(4):877-888.
• Brissette AR, Drinkwater O, Bohm K, Starr C. The diagnostic utility of a normal tear osmolarity test in patients with dry eye disease like symptoms: a prospective analysis. Cont Lens Anterior Eye. 2019;42(2):185-189.
• Gupta P, Drinkwater O, Brissette AR, Starr C. The prevalence of abnormal tear testing in cataract surgery patients with minimal to no symptoms of ocular surface disease: a prospective observational study. J Cataract Refract Surg. 2018;44(9):1090-1096.
• Brissette AR, Mednick Z, Bona M, Schweitzer K, Baxter S. Punctal plug retention rates for the treatment of moderate to severe dry eye: a randomized, double-masked, controlled clinical trial. Am J Ophthalmol. 2015;160(2):238-242.
• Brissette AR, Conlon R, Teichman J, et al. Evaluation of a new technique for donor graft preparation in Descemet’s membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK). Cornea. 2015;34(5):557-559.
• Brissette AR, Mednick Z, Baxter S. Evaluating the need for follow-up after removal of a non-complicated corneal foreign body. Cornea. 2014;33(11):193-196.
• Brissette AR, Farmer J, Strube YN, Kratky V. Glucose transporter isoform 1 receptor positivity in infantile hemangiomas. Can J Ophthalmol. 2014;49(6):156-158.
• Brissette AR, Jinapriya D, Warder D, et al. Peri-orbital necrotizing fasciitis. Can J Ophthalmol. 2014;49(6):138-139.
• Brissette AR, Kletke S, Gale J. Pantoea endophthalmitis. Can J Ophthalmol. 2014;49(1):2-5.
• Brissette AR, Schweitzer K, Campbell R. Delayed retrobulbar hemorrhage following Baerveldt glaucoma drainage implant surgery. Can J Ophthalmol. 2012;47(4):10-12.
• Sharma S, Johnson D, Abouammod M, Hollands S, Brissette AR. Rate of serious adverse effects in a series of bevacizumab and ranibizumab injections. Can J Ophthalmol. 2012;47(3)275-279.
• Brissette AR, Schweitzer K, Arthur B. Treatment of dacryocystitis and dacryoadenitis in the pediatric population. Can Fam Phys. 2011;57(1):58-59.
• Brissette AR, Schweitzer K, Campbell R. Pseudoexfoliation glaucoma. Can Fam Phys. 2011;57(1):55-56.

Non–Peer-Reviewed

• Brissette AR. Say anything: most valuable patient selection tool. Cataract & Refractive Surgery Today. March 2022.
• Brissette AR, Chang D, Vukich, J. IOL roundup. Cataract & Refractive Surgery Today. February 2022.
• Cole B, Brissette AR. Tackling pterygium. Corneal Physician. July 2021.
• Komanna S, Brissette AR. How to manage an unexpectedly uncooperative patient during surgery. Cataract & Refractive Surgery Today. April 2021.
• Brissette AR, Matossian C. Dry eye and lashes. Ophthalmology Management. December 2021.
• Brissette AR. IOL selection in patients with dry eye disease. Cataract & Refractive Surgery Today. August 2020.
• Brissette AR. The gender gap. Cataract & Refractive Surgery Today. May 2020.
• Brissette AR. How to increase your OR efficiency. Cataract & Refractive Surgery Today. March 2020.
• Bafna S, Brissette AR, Charles S, Vold S. OR advantage: high-def 3D visualization with Ngenuity System. Cataract & Refractive Surgery Today. July 2019.
• Brissette AR. Work-life balance. Cataract & Refractive Surgery Today. September 2019.
• Brissette AR. Initiatives to promote a healthy work environment in your practice. Cataract & Refractive Surgery Today. May 2019.
• Mastossian C, Starr CE, Brissette AR. Ocular effects of cosmetic procedures may masquerade as dry eye disease. Ocular Surgery News. 2018.
• Brissette AR, Starr CE. Anti-inflammatory therapy in dry eye disease. Ophthalmology Management. 2018.
• Brissette AR, Starr CE. Current treatment algorithms for the management of dry eye disease. Ocular Surgery News. 2018.
• Ratzlaff, T, Brissette AR. Watch your back (and neck and wrists). Cataract & Refractive Surgery Today. February 2018.
• Brissette AR, Starr CE. Highlights from the TFOS DEWS II report. Healio. 2017;3(4):1-3.
• Winebrake J, Drinkwater O, Brissette AR, Starr CE. TFOS DEWS II: key updates. EyeNet. November 2017.
• Brissette AR, Starr CE. An evidence-based assessment of novel procedural treatments for meibomian gland dysfunction. Healio. 2016;2(1):7-9.
• Brissette AR. Corneal biomechanics. MillennialEYE. September/October 2016.

Book Chapters

• Brissette AR. Standing out in fellowship. In: Weng CY, Berrocal AM, eds. Women in Ophthalmology. Springer; 2021.
• Tse S, Starr C, Brissette AR. Corneal crosslinking. In: Rosenberg ED, Nattis AS, Nattis RJ, eds. Operative Dictations in Ophthalmology. Springer; 2021:47-52.
• Shah S, Sales CS, Brissette AR. Descemet’s membrane endothelial keratoplasty. In: Rosenberg ED, Nattis AS, Nattis RJ, eds. Operative Dictations in Ophthalmology. Springer; 2021:69-76.
• Brissette AR, Bohm, KJ, Starr CE. Dry eye overview: classification and treatment algorithm. In: Mannis MJ, Holland EJ, eds. Cornea. 5th ed. Elsevier; 2020.
• Brissette AR, Starr CE. What is your treatment paradigm? In: Mah FS, Rhee MK, eds. Dry Eye Disease: An Up-to-Date Practical Guide. Slack; 2018.
• Prensky C, Brissette AR, Sippel K. Eye symptoms and toxicities of systemic chemotherapy. In: Olver I, ed. The MASCC Textbook of Cancer Supportive Care and Survivorship. 2nd ed. Springer; 2018.

PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY MEMBERSHIPS

• CEDARS/ASPENS
• New York Intraocular Lens Society (NYIOLIS)
• American European Congress of Ophthalmic Surgeons (AECOS)
• Women in Ophthalmology (WIO)
• Cornea Society
• American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO)
• American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS)

HONORS & AWARDS

• Super Doctors: Rising Star of New York | 2023
• Ophthalmology Management Top 40 Under 40 | 2022
• Super Doctors: Rising Star of New York | 2022, 2021, 2020
• MillennialEYE One to Watch | 2017
• Oftalmo University One to Watch | 2017
• MillennialEYE Research Award | 2016
• ASCRS Foundation Excellence Award | 2015
• Queen’s University Research Award | 2015
• Ontario Medical Association Resident Achievement Award | 2014
• Dr. Mark Cohen Award in Ophthalmology | 2011
• Inter-Professional Leadership Award | 2010
• Dr. Richard H. Gray Memorial Award | 2007
• Canadian Millennium Scholarship | 2007–2010