Take a look at our May newsletter!
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3700 Joseph Siewick Dr., Suite 400 • Fairfax, VA 22033 (703) 620-4300 • EyePlasticMD.com
MAY 2022
More Than Meets the Eye
Myth No. 2: TV and computer screens can damage your eyesight. While you might get some eye strain or feel tired after prolonged staring at a screen, neither of these activities will cause damage. But there is evidence showing that children who do prolonged “near work” — concentrating on up-close objects like books or video games — are predisposed to nearsightedness. Researchers have found that going outside, seeing daylight, and looking off into the distance helps reduce the development of nearsightedness. So, recess time in school and other breaks are necessary and healthy in younger individuals. Not bad advice for adults either! Myth No. 3: Losing your vision is a normal part of aging. While the need for reading glasses as we get older is common, vision loss is not. Therefore, visual loss should be viewed as a sign of a medical condition that needs further evaluation. If you notice changes in your vision, visit your eye doctor as soon as possible. Maybe you just need a new pair of glasses, but it could be more serious. Though your doctor can rarely restore lost vision, they can often stop further deterioration. Having first trained as an ophthalmologist before sub-specializing in eyelid plastic and reconstructive surgery, I truly appreciate how important vision WHY PREVENTIVE VISION CARE MATTERS
If you had to lose one of your senses, which would you choose? It’s a strange thought experiment, but you’ve almost certainly weighed in on it — and I’m willing to bet you didn’t pick vision. I often have patients say things like, “Dr. Scott, you don’t realize how important my vision is to me.” I like to respond back, “I’m glad you told me — most of my patients don’t care whether or not they can see!” That usually gets a smile out of them, but I understand why so many people feel the need to say it. Our vision is something we think of with great tenderness and it is estimated that approximately 80% of what we learn from the world is through our vision. At the same time, many people adopt a lackadaisical attitude towards their eye health, especially when things seem to be going well. We tend to treat our eyes a lot like we treat our cars. As long as everything is running fine, we’re sometimes inclined to ignore that sticker on the windshield telling us it’s time for an oil change. Then all of a sudden, the car makes a funny noise, and we remember why preventative care exists. May is Healthy Vision Month, so it seems like a good time to remind you that your eye health can’t wait. People with a diagnosed eye condition (or a condition known to cause eye problems) should follow the guidance of their optometrist or ophthalmologist, but even those with no known issues should have regular checkups. At a minimum, people under 40 should have an exam every five years. Those between 40 and 54 should visit their eye doctor every 2–3 years, those 55–65 should go every 1–2 years, and anyone 65 or older should have an eye checkup annually.
in an inability to read either a book or a sign on the highway and significantly reducing their quality of life. There are treatments now that can frequently slow down the progression of the disease so people can see better for longer. But early diagnosis is crucial because the vision already lost cannot be regained. Another serious concern is glaucoma. In the U.S., 1.7% of white adults over 40 have glaucoma, but Black and Hispanic patients experience the condition at twice that rate. We call high pressure in the eye glaucoma — “the silent thief of vision.” The eyes and brain are adaptable and will generally “fill in” missing information on their own, so most people have no symptoms whatsoever until suddenly, their peripheral vision is gone. Regular checkups can catch this condition early. Diabetes is another cause of ocular problems with the development of what is referred to as diabetic retinopathy with the retina’s vasculature degenerating over time. Diabetic retinopathy typically takes 5–15 years to develop and can be modified or reduced by better blood glucose control as well as maintaining a healthy blood pressure. It is not just about identifying conditions before they progress. Absent professional advice, people also tend to believe in myths they probably first heard as a kid. Here are three common myths: Myth No.1: Carrots improve your eye health. People say this because vitamin A supports eye health, but most individuals get their daily recommended amounts through their diets. Once you get as much vitamin A as you need, your vision won’t “improve” further, and your body will flush out the excess.
is to all of my patients. The last thing I want to witness is unnecessary visual deterioration. Take care of yourself from head to toe and protect your most precious sense!
Why? To start, macular degeneration may cause people to lose their center field of vision, resulting
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AMERICA’S JOURNEY TO ORBIT EARTH The First American in Space
On May 5, 1961, Alan B. Shepard became the first American to enter space on a Mercury capsule named Freedom 7. It was an incredibly momentous event, but what all had to occur for it to even happen? Let’s take a look at what led up to Shepard’s launch into space. During the 1960s, the U.S. and the Soviet Union found themselves in a space race. The United States first began their space mission in 1958 with Project Mercury. Project Mercury had three goals in mind: orbiting a crewed spacecraft, investigating the ability to function in space, and safely recovering the spacecraft and the crew. Before the first American took flight, the U.S. conducted several test launches to see what they needed to adjust and modify to be safely launched into space. The first successful launch of Mercury without an astronaut occurred in December 1960. But before they attempted to launch an American into space, NASA tested the Mercury capsule in January 1961 with a chimpanzee named Ham, who took a route that was similar to the one Shepard would eventually take.
After going through numerous simulations, NASA decided that Shepard would be making the first flight. He began his mission on May 5 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, and over half a million Americans watched the launch on nearby beaches. Shepard took his orbit around the Earth and made a successful return. He then received NASA’s highest reward, the Distinguished Service Medal, from President John F. Kennedy on May 8, 1961. Although the Soviet Union sent the first human into orbit in April 1961, this didn’t stop the U.S. from pushing forward. Instead, the bravery of these men inspired the U.S. to go to new heights and have the first man on the moon in 1969. There are still ongoing debates about whether the U.S. or the USSR won the space race. Either way, this race allowed the world to conduct more research on our galaxy. As a whole, this event led to tremendous efforts to push the limits of human capabilities, create new technology to explore outer space, and see what our universe holds.
A RELATIONSHIP BUILT TO LAST Sandra hasn’t always had the best experience with plastic surgeons. After developing Bell’s palsy in 2008, her face became partially paralyzed. When the nerves grew back, they were crossed between her eye and mouth. “When I opened my mouth, my eye would close,” she remembers. “Cute, right?” A friend recommended a plastic surgeon in Philadelphia who had helped with her eye twitching/closure using Botox. Her path hasn’t been easy, but Sandra maintains a positive attitude. Her Bell’s palsy also closed her tear duct, and two surgeries to reopen it were unfortunately unsuccessful. Her Botox also migrated once, resulting in a temporary droopy eyelid. It’s a rare but known side effect. “It wasn’t his fault, but Dr. Scott couldn’t have been nicer about it,” Sandra says. “He saw me right away, and he was very apologetic and just really human.” Why Sandra Keeps Returning to Eye Plastic Associates
But that doctor was using unethical billing practices, making Sandra pay for her procedure in cash and charging the insurance company as well. “Of course, he didn’t give me my money back,” she says. He claimed the extra expense was for “superior” Botox, but Sandra eventually learned that was a lie. “Dr. Scott said there’s only one grade of Botox,” she says. Sandra was disillusioned, but the Botox did help her spasming. So, she decided to give it another try when her pastor underwent tear duct surgery and recommended Dr. Scott. She has now been receiving Botox treatments every three months for several years. “When your face is paralyzed, there’s no 100% cure,” Sandra explains, “but it at least helps me keep my eye open so I can drive and do other things.”
Sandra grew up in Northern Virginia, and she considers herself a “local girl.” Though she is now retired, she used to work for an airline and lived all over the country. But since there’s no place like home, she eventually returned. Sandra attends church, prayer group, and Bible study in her spare time. She also enjoys making homemade greeting cards, a hobby she picked up in the ‘80s after a coworker presented her with a gift in handmade wrapping paper. Since hers is a lifelong condition, Sandra intends to continue to see Dr. Scott for as long as possible. “He’s patient, very caring, and very friendly. He always takes his time with you,” she says. “I have recommended Dr. Scott to other people and will continue to do so.”
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Behind the Puffy, Yellow Spots What Is Xanthelasma?
No one wants puffy eyes, let alone discoloration. But due to cholesterol deposits building up under the skin, xanthelasma can cause yellow skin plaques around your eyelids, making sufferers feel self-conscious and concerned for their health. Worse yet, the lesions tend to grow and become more prominent with time. The good news is that xanthelasma is benign. Removal is not necessarily medically required, but many find it unsightly and choose a corrective procedure. Xanthelasma tends to grow, and the larger it gets, the harder it is to treat. So, scheduling a visit when you first start noticing yellow patches will make your treatment and recovery easier. There are many ways to remove xanthelasma, but Dr. Scott’s preferred method is to directly excise the lesions in a staged fashion. After any removal, the skin tends to heal with a slightly lighter color than of the surrounding eyelid skin. As such, Dr. Scott likes to remove a small portion and wait
for it to fully heal before deciding on further treatment. If the patient is happy with the results, he will continue removing small sections until the xanthelasma is completely removed. While multiple treatments may be inconvenient, they are necessary to ensure proper healing with minimal scarring. Xanthelasma rarely recurs in the same spot, though it may develop in other locations around the eye. But having the yellow areas removed should not be the end of a xanthelasma patient’s journey. Contrary to what you might expect, high cholesterol doesn’t necessarily cause xanthelasma. Though about half of xanthelasma patients have elevated levels, that’s roughly the same rate of adult individuals having elevated cholesterol (38%). However, researchers have linked xanthelasma to heart disease. It’s 1 of 4 risk markers, alongside receding hairline at the temples, baldness on the
crown of the head, or an earlobe crease. Having three of these four symptoms makes a person 57% more likely to have a heart attack, and the fatty deposits around the eyes (xanthelasma) are the most powerful individual predictor of subsequent cardiac disease. So, your treatment should not end in Dr. Scott’s office. If you’ve developed xanthelasma, schedule an appointment with your internist/cardiologist. They can determine your risk factors and decide if you need additional tests or medication(s). It’s normal to care about what you look like on the outside, but your internal health should be your top priority.
One-Pan Baked Salmon and Veggies Inspired by BBCGoodFood.com
A referral is the highest compliment our patients can give! Welcome to our new patients, and
thank you for the six referrals this month! Do you know someone who might need Dr. Scott’s care? Pass this newsletter along to them!
It’s asparagus season! Celebrate with this easy one-pan salmon dish for two.
INGREDIENTS •
1 lb spring potatoes, halved 2 tbsp olive oil (divided) 8 asparagus spears, trimmed and halved
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2 handfuls cherry tomatoes 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
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2 5-oz salmon fillets 1 handful fresh basil
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat the oven to 400 F. 2. In an oven-proof dish, combine the potatoes and 1 tbsp olive oil. Roast for 20 minutes. 3. Remove the dish from the oven and add the asparagus. Toss, and bake for 15 more minutes. 4. Remove the dish from the oven and add the cherry tomatoes. Toss. Drizzle with balsamic, then nestle the salmon fillets into the vegetables. Drizzle with the remaining oil, and bake for 10–15 minutes. 5. Remove the dish from the oven, garnish with basil leaves, and serve!
“I like that glasses suggest intelligence instead of broken eyes.”
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3700 Joseph Siewick Dr., Suite 400 • Fairfax, VA 22033 (703) 620-4300 • EyePlasticMD.com
Inside This Issue
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Have You Visited Your Eye Doctor Lately?
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Remembering the Space Race
Dr. Scott Helped Sandra With Bell’s Palsy
What Xanthelasma Means for Your Health
One-Pan Baked Salmon and Veggies
Hate Souvenir Shopping? Let’s Make It Easy
WHO ARE YOU BUYING FOR? What are your recipient’s interests, or what do they spend the most time doing? If you’re buying for yourself and enjoy coffee, you might buy a local coffee blend to enjoy from home. However, if your recipient doesn’t enjoy coffee or rarely drinks it, that type of gift might not mean much to them. IS IT LEGAL TO BRING HOME? Whether you’re traveling domestically or internationally, there are many regulations that affect which souvenirs you can bring home. Even if you find the item in a tourist shop, that doesn’t mean it’ll be allowed into the country or even onto the plane. And the TSA does take this seriously. In 2012, two tourists were detained at the U.S. border for trying to bring home chocolate Kinder eggs — a specific kind that are illegal in the U.S. due to the potentially hazardous small toys inside. PURCHASE A HANDICRAFT. Handicrafts — items created by local artisans — are awesome souvenirs! But make sure you buy where artisans actually sell their own goods, such as an open-air market. Unfortunately, while some popular tourist shops may sell “locally made goods,” many souvenirs intended for tourists are actually made by cheap manufacturers in other countries. KEEP SOMETHING FROM THE ADVENTURE. Bringing a glass bottle to take home some sand is a popular way of creating your own souvenir from a beach vacation. But you can do this with almost any item! Whether it’s stones, ticket stubs from favorite shows and activities, or a handmade item from a class, make sure to look out for souvenirs that’ll remind you of great memories and experiences.
PICKING THE PERFECT SOUVENIR
A way to preserve or share a piece of your trip is to bring home a souvenir, but choosing a souvenir isn’t always a stress-free experience. How do you pick the perfect souvenir and not just the first thing you see in a tourist shop? Here are some tips for picking a truly meaningful gift for yourself or your loved ones.
We hope these tips will help you make the best choice. Bon voyage!
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