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Here I’m featured in a segment for FOX5 (aired Wednesday, October 28, 2008) about the health hazards of wearing contact lenses without a prescription.
Dr. Schlessinger comments on Blepharitis your decision to use Latisse
I spoke in my last post about Latisse - a wonderful product for the right candidate. I also mentioned that there may be some underlying issues related to eyelash thinning and loss to take into consideration before obtaining this prescription medication to increase thickness and lash length.
For those of you who may not know me or who are not familiar with my Practice, I see all sorts of eye conditions, disease, trauma and the like. There’s never a shortage of conditions, but thankfully, there are treatments that I provide every day to my patients here in Woodbury & Hauppauge.
One such condition that would preclude a patient from benefiting from using Latisse is Blepharitis. This is a condition that is characterized by inflamation and redness in the margins of the eyelid. Symptoms can include one or more of the following: redness, itching, scaling and irritation of the eyelid. If you’ve ever had “Pink Eye” (conjunctivitis) you may notice that the symptoms are similar. It can also be mistaken for “dry eye” by patients due to the gritty sensation that may occur.
The clinical definition (as provided by the American Academy of Ophthalmology) is
“…a chronic condition that has periods of exacerbation and remission. Although onset
usually occurs in middle-aged adults, it can begin in childhood. …Severe staphylococcal blepharitis may eventually lead to eyelash loss…”
If you suspect that you have this condition, naturally come see me in the office for a proper diagnosis and appropriate treatment, as this may be the cause of your thinning lashes.
I mentioned other conditions in the 6/15 post on Latisse, such as thyroid disease, eyelid skin cancers and trichelomania. Stay tuned to my blog for more info on these conditions and what to look for.
Dr. Dave 
Dr. Schlessinger comments on Latisse
I’ve talked before about the benefits of Latisse. It’s a great product and has given many of my patients here in Woodbury some fantastic results. As a cosmetic eyelid surgeon here on the north shore of Long Island, I see many patients who have this concern and who would love to forego the application of false lashes when they get their makeup done for a special event.
Today I’d like to talk briefly about the small population of patients that this product may not be suitable for. For those of you who aren’t familiar with this product, it is put out by Allergan (also the makers of Botox) and is has been used recently to treat thinning eyelashes. In a period of 2-4 months, patients who use this prescription properly and under the care of an Ophthalmologist, can see fuller, darker and longer lashes. Truly a wonderful product for some of my patients who have been looking for a remedy for their thinning lashes!
However, all patients need to undergo an Ophthalmic Exam prior to going on the Latisse regimen. In certain cases, Latisse is not the answer. Have an ophthalmologist check to see if you have a problem that causes eyelash loss. Blepharitis, thyroid disease, eyelid skin cancers and trichelomania are some of the conditions I look for that would preclude a patient from beginning the Latisse Regimen.
For now, click here to take a look at the FAQ’s for this product. The link will take you directly to their website.
Check back to future posts where I will describe these conditions and treatments.
Dr. S
Just read an item in USA Today where David Ortiz blames his recent slump on possible problems with his vision.
Ron Borges of The Boston Herald observes, “with his batting average still hovering at a career-low .187 a third of the way through the season, Ortiz is, of course, looking for answers”.
This confirms what I and all of my patients know (if you are listening!!)…it’s so important to get your vision checked every year. The DMV requires that you do so and that keeps the road safe for all of us. Of course I can perform this service in my office or you can go to your local Optomotrist. Either way, stay on top of this. You don’t have to be a professional baseball player to have motivation to maintain your healthy vision.
Have a Great Weekend!
Mother’s Day is a time of commemoration and celebration for your mom. It is a time of breakfast in bed, family, pampering and…cosmetic treatments? This year, give mom (and maybe yourself) some treatments to make her look and feel refreshed.
A great treatment to start with is BOTOX® as it reduces and eliminates the appearance of facial wrinkles. While it is a very common procedure in my office, most people are still unsure of how it works. Typically injected under the skin in to areas surrounding the eyes, forehead and mouth, BOTOX® smoothes crow’s feet, frown and worry lines, as well as lines on the neck area. Made from a purified protein, BOTOX® relaxes wrinkles and gives the face a rejuvenated look. Results can be seen within a few days and can last as long as 3-6 months.
Another great option are wrinkle fillers (“plumpers”) such as JUVÉDERM®, Radiesse®, Restylane® or SILIKON®. These soft tissue fillers are injected under the skin to “plump up,” contour and smooth wrinkles, lines and hollow areas in the face, and to augment the lips or cheeks for a younger, fuller appearance. These also work well for a more mature woman that has some volume loss in her face do to the natural aging process. A few strategic injections can make the world of difference and make any woman looks years, if not a decade younger.
If injectables aren’t your cup of tea, Microdermabrasion is a great treatment for achieving flawless skin. During this procedure, the top layer of skin is gently exfoliated leaving you with an immediate vibrant ‘glow’ to your complexion. This treatment is a perfect alternative to laser or chemical peels, as there is no downtime and results are almost instantaneous. Microdermabrasion is a great way to rejuvenate your skin and keep it looking and feeling healthy.
Finally, to complete the day of pampering, eyelash tinting is a great way to enhance your eyes. Lashes are dyed darker to give you fuller, more defined lashes in just 15 minutes. Eyelash tinting is especially beneficial to people that are sensitive to make-up and have little to no time (i.e. Mothers) to apply make-up daily. This means you can walk out the door each morning without mascara and no one will be the wiser.
If you still have questions, visit my website to read more on all of these procedures and more. Just one of these treatments will leave everyone questioning; “Is that your mom or your sister?”
Photo source: www.theflowerexpert.com
If you weren’t following the news last week, there were a number of reports out regarding the alarming connection between melanoma and older men - a group that is largely afflicted by skin cancer. The message was clear; if you can’t check your own back (or skin on the face), have someone look for you or see your physician.
While it’s easy to miss the signs of cancer on areas of your body that you can’t easily view head-on, the same is true when dealing with areas that are in plain sight. One problem is that many people don’t know what to look for, even when it’s staring them right in the face.
In my practice - when it comes to skin cancer - I deal specifically with the face and eyelids. Even with visible indicators, most patients still overlook the tell-tale warning signs, which is why it’s important to be educated on how to spot skin cancer early on.
For starters, there are four main types of skin cancer; Basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, malignant melanoma and sebaceous gland carcinoma. What’s the difference you ask? Let’s break it down.
Basal cell carcinoma accounts for approximately 75 percent of cases of the eyelid. The growth usually begins as a small, painless lesion that feels smooth and may be red in hue. While this one is rarely harmful, it can damage the surrounding tissue if left untreated. In most instances, I can treat this with a simple surgical excision.
Squamous cell carcinoma is a raised lesion that usually appears on the lower eyelid. It is often scaly and reddish, much like a scab. I’ve had some patients report that it looked more like a pimple. The important thing to remember in this instance is that while a pimple can form in the eyelid area, they usually clear up on their own within a week, unlike cancer which must be treated medically. If you have the same mark for weeks, or months, it is probably time to see your physician, especially because this form of cancer can spread to surrounding tissue and metastasize, which makes treatment more difficult and painful when it doesn’t have to be.
Malignant melanoma originates in the skin cells that produce melanin, the pigment in our skin that darkens with sun exposure. There are two types, including lentigo maligna melanoma – this one doesn’t metastasize – and nodular melanoma, elevated, blue-black lesions that have a high rate of metastasis.
Sebaceous gland carcinoma is a rare cancer that commonly occurs on the upper eyelids. They are usually firm to the touch, but painless. Visually, they have a yellow hue. With this form of cancer, the surrounding areas can be greatly affected if left untreated. I’ve seen cases where the cancer spreads to the eye socket bones, and even the lymph nodes.
Now that you have a better understanding of the different types of skin cancers, it is important to take proper precautions. The number one rule is to always wear sunscreen, even if it’s the middle of winter and the sky is overcast. It is also a good rule of thumb to always stay under cover of a large hat and clothes that cover your body to help prevent further damage.
If you think you may have any of the symptoms above, contact your physician immediately. When dealing with cancer, it is always better to be precautious, as early detection is important to the treatment process.
May is Healthy Vision Month and eye safety is extremely important as we head into the summer months. According to The Coalition To Prevent Sports Eye Injuries, more than 600,000 sports/outdoor related eye injuries occur each year, with approximately 42,000 cases requiring emergency room attention. The numbers tend to spike during the spring and summer months when people are participating in more outdoor activities.
It is important that the public is aware of potential hazards in order to adequately protect themselves. I see an exorbitant amount of patients each [summer] season who are afflicted with eye injuries that could have been prevented if they took a few precautions.
Individuals can protect their eyes by adhering to the following:
The Top 20 Outdoor Activities Relating to Eye Injuries include:
If an injury does occur, consult your physician as soon as possible as the seriousness of the injury may not be immediately obvious and early detection can mean the difference between perfect vision and permanent damage.
Photo Source: http://blogs.germantownnow.com/g-town_rec_scene/
Recent technological innovations and advancements appear to have made the annual visit to the eye doctor much more critical. A look into the eye can now help locate and monitor the growth of brain tumors and track neurodegenerative conditions like Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. While links between such diseases and the optic nerve has been known for over two decades, this knowledge can finally be put to use thanks to the improved accuracy of ophthalmological tools such as lasers to scan the shape and thickness of optical nerve fibers at the back of the eye. In fact, these lasers are also commonly used to detect glaucoma.
The brain is connected to the eyes by an optic nerve, so any collapse of the brain caused by the aforesaid illnesses can also damage cells along the nerve and in the retina. By closely examining the region of the retina known as the optic nerve disc, it is now possible to track any critical changes in order to monitor the progression of diseases previously mentioned.
Another even more hopeful development is the emergence of optical coherence tomography (OCT). When applied to the optic nerve disc, OCT produces highly detailed two- and three-dimensional images that provide the physician with extensive information about the retinal nerve fibers, allowing them to track even the slightest of changes while monitoring the effectiveness of treatments for many neurodegenerative diseases. Since the drugs that are commonly used for treatment are prone to numerous side effects, patients can immediately discontinue taking them if no benefits are seen. The good news continues. Compared to other tests like MRIs, OCT is extremely inexpensive and can be performed in minutes.
Since brain tumors can affect vision by pressing on the optic nerve, this technology can also be used as a valuable tool for monitoring these tumors. In addition, the degree of the nerve-disc fiber thinning can even show whether vision will be restored upon removal of the tumor.
While difficulties do exist since nerve fibers are different from person to person, the fundamental goal for using this tomography is to diagnose diseases before symptoms arise. The moral of the story? Regular visits to the eye doctor and frequent screenings will help spot neurological conditions incredibly early and make a huge difference in how these fatal diseases develop, thus, saving more lives.
Do you have questions or want more medical blogs like this? I invite you to leave your comments and suggestions.
Photo Source: http://www.thenational.ae
January is National Thyroid Awareness Month. I wanted to share some information Graves’ Disease, an illness that affects millions of Americans including Oprah Winfrey and Kim Cattrall.
Graves’ Disease is an auto-immune disease where your body produces antibodies that “attack” the thyroid gland. In many cases it causes the thyroid to produce too much thyroid hormone, also known as hyperthyroidis. This produces a condition in which the body can feel the following effects: increased anxiety, fatigue, brittle hair, hand tremors and difficulty sleeping. In many instances, patients may also be faced with physical changes in their appearance including bulging eyes and uneven eyelids.
At my practice in Woodbury, Long Island, I see dozens of patients each week who have already undergone drug and/or radioactive iodine therapy, but need help addressing the physical affects, which are often cosmetic in nature. In these cases, eyelid surgery is performed to bring the eyelids into a more normal position, which will also help improve vision. Additionally, some patients may require a surgical procedure known as orbital decompression to help bring the bulging eyes back to their normal position to improve appearance.
In addition to the above mentioned, Graves’ disease may cause the following mild signs and symptoms:
Less often, Graves’ ophthalmology can produce these signs and symptoms:
If you think you may have Graves’ disease, check with your physician immediately, as early treatment is always best. For additional information, you can visit MY WEBSITE or WebMD.com.
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