- CryotherapyDuring eyelid tumor removal surgery, the doctor may use several techniques to completely remove the tumor. This may include Mohs technique, a wedge biopsy, or cryotherapy. Once the tumor is removed, the doctor will perform any needed reconstruction to restore the eyes to a normal appearance using flaps or other techniques.
- Medical Weight LossHyperthyroidism, also known as an overactive thyroid gland, involves an excess of hormone production that can lead to weight loss, irregular heartbeat, and irritability. One of the most common reasons for an overactive thyroid gland is Grave’s disease, an autoimmune disorder in which antibodies cause the thyroid to be overactive. Eye changes may also be seen in other types of thyroid disorder. In more severe cases of thyroid eye disease, surgical treatment may be recommended by the board-certified ophthalmologists at Oculoplastic Associates of Texas in Dallas and Plano. Depending upon the way the condition is affecting the eyes, procedures may be considered to relieve the pressure on the optic nerve (orbital decompression), reposition the muscles of the eye, or alter the eyelid tissue (eyelid retraction repair) in order to relieve the eye and improve the patient’s appearance.
- Pediatric CareAfter graduating from Dartmouth College with an undergraduate degree in Biology, Dr. Ho completed her medical training at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California. During medical school, she received numerous awards and was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha national medical society. After her pediatrics internship at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, she completed her ophthalmology residency and served as Chief Resident at the University of Southern California Roski Eye Institute. Dr. Ho then moved to St. Louis for fellowship training in oculofacial plastic surgery at Washington University in St. Louis, one of the few prestigious American Society of Ophthalmic Plastics & Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS) fellowships.
- GlaucomaEnucleation is most often used when the patient has a very large tumor or a large tumor in an eye with little to no vision. An eye may also be removed after a severe trauma, end state glaucoma, diabetes, and other ocular diseases.
- OphthalmologyAn obstruction in the adult tear ducts may be caused by aging, trauma, inflammation from conditions like arthritis, certain medications, and tumors. When the smaller tear ducts that maintain moisture on the eye become blocked, the main tear duct begins to overproduce tears and the eyes become watery, especially during activities like using computer screens and reading. To correct the tear duct obstruction, adults may need dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) to clear the blockage or create a new passageway for the tears. At Oculoplastic Associates of Texas, our board-certified ophthalmology surgeons can diagnose and treat tear duct obstruction in adults at our Dallas and Plano offices.
- Laser Eye SurgeryPtosis is usually a result of aging, but can also develop after eye surgery or an injury. Some children are born with this condition.
- PsychiatryDr. Merritt completed medical school, ophthalmology residency, and his oculoplastic surgery fellowship at The University of Texas of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. While waiting on his wife to complete her residency in psychiatry, Dr. Merritt broadened his training with an additional fellowship in pediatric ophthalmology.
- Diabetes Care
- Thyroid
- MRITo determine the presence of a tumor, testing will be performed. This may include a CT scan or an MRI. Sometimes a mass can be located during physical examination of the area around the eye. The doctor may be able to determine the type of tumor based on imaging studies and will recommend treatment based on these findings.
- Computed Tomography
- ChemotherapyThere are numerous treatment options available for orbital tumors, depending upon the type of tumor and its size and location. In some cases, surgery will be recommended to fully remove the tumor. In other cases, it may be best treated with chemotherapy, radiation, or immunotherapy.
- General SurgeryDr. Corona graduated from Universidad La Salle School of Medicine in Mexico City with honors in 1994. After an internship in general surgery at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, he completed his ophthalmology residency at Texas Tech University Health Science Center in Lubbock and his fellowship in oculoplastic and orbital surgery at McGill University in Montreal.
- Wound CareSuperficial defects or minor growths that have been removed are usually repaired with basic wound care or a few stitches, which should heal in about 7 – 10 days. More extensive injuries or larger growths that have been removed may need more complex reconstruction involving transfer of nearby tissue (“flaps”) or skin grafts. Some patients may need more than one operation in staged fashion to allow healing before the next step of reconstruction.
- Reconstructive SurgeryDr. Tiffany Ho has a passion for the treatment of double eyelid, orbital, and reconstructive surgery. She has taught at various peri-orbital surgery courses, lectured at domestic conferences, and published in peer-reviewed medical journals and book chapters.
- BotoxQuick, safe, and effective, BOTOX® Cosmetic is injected under the skin into areas surrounding the eyes, forehead, and other fine lines to smooth crow’s feet, frown lines, and worry lines. Made from a purified protein, BOTOX® relaxes the muscle of the face that cause dynamic wrinkles to give the face a rejuvenated look. The surgeons of Oculoplastic Associates of Texas use BOTOX® on their Dallas and Plano patients for cosmetic enhancements, but it may also be useful for relieving eyelid twitching/spasms (blepharospasm) and facial spasms (hemifacial spasm).
- Brow LiftUpper eyelid blepharoplasty, Lower eyelid blepharoplasty, Ptosis, Brow lift, Eye bags, Tear trough, Asian eyelid surgery, Canthoplasty, Cheek lift, Sagging eyelid skin, Dark circles, Sunken eyes
- Eyelid SurgeryAfter lower eyelid surgery, patients will have temporary swelling and bruising during their first 10-14 days after the surgery. Patients should rest and recover in 1 – 2 weeks before returning to work and normal activities. Patients will need to return to the office 5–7 days after their surgery for a follow up appointment with their surgeon to check their recovery progress and have their stitches removed.
- RhinoplastyBlepharoplasty is now the most popular facial plastic surgery procedure after rhinoplasty. The popularity of this procedure reflects the importance of the eyes in improving overall appearance. In fact, two-thirds of adults consider the eyes to be the defining feature of the face. North Texans who are unhappy with the appearance of their eyes may consider a lower blepharoplasty, or lower eyelid lift, to improve their look and boost their confidence through a safe procedure with minimal downtime. Oculoplastic Associates of Texas, with offices in Dallas and Plano, can improve puffiness and bags under the eyes for a more awake, more youthful, and more energetic appearance.
- Plastic SurgeryDisease, trauma, blindness, and eye pain may necessitate the removal of an eye, also called enucleation. Many patients are still able to see normally with only one eye and with modern prosthetics combined with orbital implants allow the patient to maintain a normal appearance. Drs. Marriott, Corona, and Abbott of Texas Oculoplastic Associates of Texas perform enucleation when needed for their Dallas and Plano area patients. As board-certified ophthalmologists with training in plastic surgery, they are able to perform enucleation while maintaining the appearance and structure of the eye socket to help the patient’s post-surgical appearance.
- BlepharoplastyPtosis is a common condition that can affect the upper eyelid of one or both eyes as a result of aging, a congenital defect, muscle deformity, or neurological disorder. It is most often caused by a weakness or separation of a muscle deep within the eyelid, and is usually easily repaired by simply reattaching this muscle to the normal connections on the lower aspect of the upper eyelid. This condition can occur in patients of all ages, but is most common in older patients and will likely continue to worsen with age. Children with ptosis should be examined regularly to check for other vision problems including amblyopia (“lazy eye”), refractive errors and muscular diseases. Dallas and Plano area patients of Oculoplastic Associates of Texas may seek treatment for droopy eyelids for cosmetic and/or medical purposes. Severe drooping may obstruct vision as the eyelid gradually droops lower and lower, eventually covering the eye. Other patients are simply bothered by the appearance of their eyelids. In adults, ptosis repair is often done in conjunction with upper eyelid blepharoplasty to remove excess skin.
- Cosmetic SurgeryDr. Ho is also fluent in Mandarin Chinese and conversant in Spanish. She is available for consultation for reconstructive or cosmetic surgery in our Dallas or Plano office locations beginning September of 2022.
- Skin CancerA tumor on the eyelid does not necessarily mean the patient has eyelid cancer. Many are removed and then determined to be benign cysts, inflammations, or skin cancer. It is important that patients have their eyelids inspected regularly by a doctor and they seek treatment right away for any tumors.
- Cyst
- LesionsTumors are abnormal growths of tissue that can be benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Tumors on the eyelid should be evaluated and treated as soon as possible. Even a benign tumor can cause pain or irritation to the eye. A biopsy will usually determine whether the eyelid tumor is benign or malignant. Benign eyelid lesions can completely excised at the patient’s initial visit to the Dallas or Plano offices of Oculoplastic Associates of Texas. Most cancers of the eyelid (about 85 – 95%) are basal cell carcinomas that form on the surface of the eyelid. They are malignant but rarely spread to other parts of the body. Occasionally it is also possible to see squamous cell carcinomas, sebaceous cell carcinomas, and malignant melanoma of the eyelid.
- Burns