Will You Need Follow-Up Visits?

Nice to Know:

Spotting Eyelid Skin Cancer

Because the eyelid protects the eye, cancer of the eyelid poses special concerns. For example, drainage structures must remove lubricating fluids, or tears will overflow onto the cheeks.

• Eyelid skin cancer occurs most often on the lower eyelid but also may occur in the corner of the eye, eyelid margins, or eyebrows. The cancer appears as painless nodules. The affected areas may be ulcerated and accompanied by bleeding and crusting. Eyelashes may be distorted or missing.

• Eyelid skin cancers usually are treated with ophthalmic plastic by reconstructive surgeons specializing in diseases and conditions involving the eyelids, tear duct system, orbit (bone cavity around the eye) and adjacent facial structures.

• Fellowship in the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS) indicates that the surgeon has special training in this subspecialty and is board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology.

Nice to Know:

Banishing Wrinkles: Get Out of the Sun

Dermatologists agree that if it weren't for exposure to sun, we would be wrinkle-free well into our eighties. Sun exposure damages skin both inside and out. The outermost tier of the skin - the epidermis - is damaged first, resulting in a layer of dead cells that give the skin a leathery look. Then the upper layers of dermis - the bulk of the skin - are damaged, resulting in thinner, less resilient skin, which becomes more likely to wrinkle. With time, the collagen and elastin fibers forming the dermis break down as well, and skin begins to droop and sag.

Nice to Know:

Hooray for Retin-A

Retin-A is a vitamin A compound, a star for eliminating wrinkles. Retin-A was originally developed as an acne medication but was found to work against wrinkles by stimulating new cells. Retin-A stimulates collagen production and blood flow into the dermis, yielding a more youthful appearance and preventing some wrinkles from occurring. Retin-A is available by prescription only.

Nice to Know:

The Eyes Have It

There are three types of vision or eye care specialists:

Ophthalmologists are physicians who specialize in diagnosing and treating eye diseases. They prescribe drugs, perform examinations and eye surgery, and also may provide eyeglasses and contact lenses.

Optometrists are not medical doctors but have doctor of optometry degrees in eye care. They examine eyes, diagnose vision problems, and provide eyeglasses and contact lenses. They also may detect eye diseases but will normally refer you to an ophthalmologist for definitive diagnosis and treatment.

Opticians take measurements and design, verify, and deliver contact lenses, eyeglass lenses, frames, and low-vision aids on prescriptions written by ophthalmologists and optometrists. They may not examine eyes or prescribe lenses.