Dr. Mridula Mehta

Eyes are believed to be the most attractive feature in a person. A pair of beautiful eyes can melt millions of hearts. Skin ageing and its consequences can throw life in jeopardy. Sagging eyelids are one such unwanted consequence. With ageing, the skin loses its elasticity to a great extent.

• There is an increased skin accumulation around the upper and lower eyelids. As a result, the eyelids become sagging and droopy. Sagging eyelids can be annoying, affecting a person's overall appearance and self-confidence. In extreme cases, it interferes with the normal vision of the affected individual. Eye irritation is also common.
• Thus, the problem needs to be treated at the earliest. Blepharoplasty or the eyelid surgery comes as a huge relief. Here, the surgery is mainly performed to enhance an individual's appearance. To treat sagging eyelids, it is important to get rid of the accumulated skin, loose muscles and fat pads. Procedure is done under local anesthesia.
• For upper eyelids, the surgeon makes small punctures along the line of the eyelids. These punctures act as the exit points for the unwanted skin, muscles and fats. Following the removal of the skin present in excess, the punctures are carefully stitched. In case of the lower eyelids, the fat pads are removed through an incision made inside the eyelids. The excess skin can also be eliminated through an incision made along the margin of the eyelashes.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Wrinkles are a normal yet unsightly sign of aging which can come about due to various reasons including too much exposure to the sun, poor diet, excessive smoking and drinking, lack of proper sleep, advent of age, loss of moisture and elasticity as well as collagen which creates a smooth and supple look, and other such reasons. Cosmetic and plastic surgeons are now turning to a variety of methods to lessen the pronounced look of wrinkles and remove them for younger looking skin. Here are a few methods currently in use.

1. Fillers: Fillers like collagen and others including poly lactic acid, Calcium Hydroxlyapatite, and Hyaluronic acid can be used to restore the elasticity of the skin even as they provide precious hydration. These injectibles can be used on the face as well as the hands for a smooth and supple look.
2. Botox: To get rid of the lines on the forehead and to prevent the onset of more pronounced wrinkles, Botox or Botulinum Toxin Type A is a favoured element used by many cosmetic surgeons and dermatologists. This is usually administered via injection.
3. Retinoids: This is administered with a surgical procedure in order to remove uneven pigmentation as well as the roughness of skin which sets in with age and excessive smoking and sun exposure. It may cause skin peeling and redness.
4. Laser: The use of laser resurfacing can also help in stimulating collagen production of the skin, which restores some of its elasticity so that wrinkles may be removed and further wrinkles prevented. 
5. Surgery: The use of surgical methods like face lifts, brow lifts and other cosmetic processes can help in giving the skin a tighter look which does away with the appearance of wrinkles. These are usually minor procedures from which one will heal fast.
6. Dermabrasion: This method is a surgical one that basically sands the surface of the skin in order to remove the wrinkles. It can cause side effects like permanent discolouration of the skin as well as scarring for particularly sensitive skin.
7. Peels: Glycolic acid peels and deeper peels that use elements like Salicylic acid can be used to go deep into the skin and making it smooth again. It basically makes a difference to the fine lines. There is a chance of side effects like scarring, bruising and general discolouration in this method as well. 

Adequate sleep, good nutrition, avoiding excessive sun exposure and a good skin care regimen can help in keeping wrinkles at bay for a long time. Moisturising with products that contain plenty of vitamin A and E can also help in reducing fine lines. 

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Cataract can be defined as the clouding of the natural lenses in the eyes. This is caused by the clumping of protein in the eye lens. Cataract is a common eye disorder and the leading cause of loss of vision in people who are past their fortieth birthday. Cataract can occur in one or both eyes. When diagnosed properly, cataract can be treated with surgery to prevent blindness.

Depending on where and how they develop, there are many types of cataract. The most common amongst these are:

1. Subcapsular cataract: These occur at the back of the eye lens. Diabetic patients are very susceptible to this kind of cataract.
2. Nuclear cataract: Yellowish-brown cataract that form in the center of the lens are called nuclear cataract. This is usually seen in cataract caused by ageing.
3. Cortical cataract: Cataract in the lens cortex are known as cortical cataract. These are wedge shaped and whitish in color. Spokes protruding out of these opaque wedges can be seen moving towards the center of the eye.
4. Congenital cataract: Though they are not common, babies can also have cataract. Cataract formed at birth or within the first year of a baby's birth are known as congenital cataract.
5. Secondary cataract: Cataract is one of the known side effects of diabetes and glaucoma. Some steroids and medicines are also linked to cataract.
6. Traumatic cataract: If your vision becomes cloudy years after an eye injury, it could be a traumatic cataract. It can take several years for this to happen.
7. Radiation cataract: Exposure to radiation can also lead to cataract. This is seen sometimes in patients who have undergone radiation therapy to fight diseases like cancer.

Though the type of cataract might differ from person to person, the symptoms are usually the same. Some of the common symptoms of cataract are:

1. Blurred vision
2. Reduced night vision
3. Increased sensitivity to light and glare
4. Seeing halos around lights
5. Colors appearing faded
6. Double vision

A reading test is the first step towards diagnosing cataracts. This is followed by tests to measure the eye pressure. Your doctor will also need to dilate the pupil to check the condition of the optic nerves and retina.

Surgery is the safest way to remove a cataract. Surgery is usually recommended when cataract begin inhibiting your daily life such as preventing you from driving, interfering with reading etc.

In most cases, this can be done as an outpatient procedure. The earlier it is diagnosed, the easier it is to treat. Hence, if you notice any of the symptoms mentioned above, get your eyes checked at once. The surgery is a day-care surgery only, so a person can go home the same day.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Hello dear friends, I am Dr Mridula Mehta, basically a trained Ophthalmic surgeon and deal with cataracts lasic, laser procedure and Oculoplastic surgeries. I have proceeded my training from prestigious institutes like Maulana Azad Medical College, Lady Hardinge Medical College and a major portion of my Ophthalmic surgical training has been from Dr RP centre, All India Institute of medical science, Delhi. Today I will be talking about Oculoplastic surgery, Oculoplastic surgeries are the surgeries that deal with the area around the eye. Oculoplastic surgeons are ophthalmic surgeons, eye surgeons that are specially trained in this field. The area around the eye is very important for the visual function as well as the beauty of the face. The oculoplastic surgeon knows that and handles the tissues around the eyes very gently so that the aesthetic, as well as the functional aspects of the eyes, are maintained. The main things that an Oculoplastic surgeon deals with our watery eye i.e. tear duct anomalies, birth defects of the eye, tumours of the eye, any injury around the eye, socket abnormalities, artificial eye fitting. Also in today’s arena, we deal with the aesthetic aspects of the face especially the upper face. Oculoplasty gives measures to rejuvenate the face, both surgically and non-surgically. Non-surgical options which we provide are botox and fillers around the eye and surgically, we do surgeries for eye bag removal, for wrinkles around the eye, to treat the sagging skin in the upper lid and lower lid by surgeries like blepharoplasty. Blepharoplasty in today’s world is one of the most common surgeries done to rejuvenate the upper face. We have both the options to do stitch less as well as with stitch blepharoplasty, other things that an oculoplastic surgeon deals with the ptosis i.e. the droopy eye or the sleepy eyes, entropion, ectropion i.e. inward turning or upward turning of the eyelashes which especially occur in the old people or any another size abnormalities of the eye can be easily dealt. Sometimes children have a watery eye, again tear duct problems since birth are dealt by the oculoplastic surgeons you have any queries.

You can contact me through Lybrate.com or take my appointment through Lybrate.

LASIK or laser in situ keratomileusis, is a form of corrective surgery that help patients who are suffering from near sightedness (Myopia), far sightedness (Hypermetropia) and even astigmatism (cylindrical power in glasses). This procedure aims at correcting the shape of the cornea, which is the transparent layer that lines the front of the eye. Through this procedure, the cornea is reshaped so that the retina receives a focused light.

So what are the health tips for people going through a LASIK procedure? Here is our take:

Advantages:

Biggest advantage of LASIK is that it helps people to get rid of Glasses and contact lenses, which sometimes are cosmetically unacceptable and in some cases are visually disabling.

Best part of LASIK is that it is:

• Quick (total duration of surgery is hardly 5 minutes) and virtually painless.
• Has a high success rate ( success rate is 96%).
• Does not require bandages or stitches.
• Adjustments can be made years later to alter the vision as per growing impairment in the future and advancing years.

Risks/Side Effects:

Minor side effects like dryness, glare and halos, if appear, subside with time.

Eligibility Criteria:

Any person 18 yrs or older who fulfils the following criteria can undergo Lasik surgery

1. Stable refraction
2. Corneal thickness and topography should be in normal range
3. Dilated retinal examination should be normal
4. Adequately wet eyes

Note: One should abstain from wearing contact lens at least 2 weeks before the procedure.

Precaution after the Procedure:

Patient is likely to have some inflammation after the procedure and temporary dryness.

Use medicines as prescribed by the doctor

1. Avoid any type of eye makeup for at least 1 month after surgery
2. Avoid swimming or water sports for at least 2- 3 weeks after surgery

Going through a LASIK procedure is a matter of finding the right specialist and ensuring that you take all the precautions before the procedure. Also, it is important to look into your medical history and eyes in particular so as to avoid complications. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult an Ophthalmologist.