Are your Dry Eyes Making you Look Old?

This past weekend I attended a conference. I think I shared with you a month or so ago about how I love to spend time with other dry eye experts. So, when I get the chance to be in the room with 30 or more experts my excitement rises.

 

If you don’t remember the day I spent with an ocular plastic surgeon, Dr. Bryan Vekovius, you can revisit the blog here.

 

This time, I spent the day with Drs. Melissa and Rolando Toyos.  This powerhouse couple consists of one of the world's most prolific dry eye experts, Rolando Toyos, M. D., and Biochemist and oculoplastic surgeon, Melissa Toyos, M. D.  

 

These two experts shared their knowledge and their latest research to a room packed with dry eye experts from around the world. There were doctors from Europe, Australia, Canada, and the US.  I felt privileged to be among them and share knowledge between us all.

 

Dr. Rolando Toyose is the inventor of two procedures that are very helpful in treating dry. The first of his inventions is IPL, Intense Pulsed Light.  And, it is quickly becoming a mainstream treatment of moderate to severe dry eye.

 

Dr. Toyos has also spearheaded the advancement of Platelet-Rich Plasma drops for severe dry eye sufferers.  In my office, at Lusk Eye Specialists, we call these Plasma Tears.

 

Plasma tears are derived from your own blood.  To prepare them, we draw 60 mL of blood from your arm. Then, we utilize a special centrifuge device to separate the blood into the platelet-rich plasma.  Once we have extracted this plasma, we compound the drops in the office into tears that can then be utilized to treat your dry eyes.

 

The benefit of these tears is that they come from your own body. We are harnessing the power of your own body's healing mechanisms and concentrating it.  Then, we compound the concentrated nerve growth factors and platelets into eyedrops.

 

The body uses its own healing abilities to soothe and restore the front surface of your eyes.  Once the Plasma Tears have regenerated the nerves on the front surface of your eye, you will be able to maintain a healthy surface again.

 

This is truly the latest technology available in dry eye treatment. If you are suffering from severe dry eye syndrome, please schedule an appointment in our clinic.  We will be happy to discuss with you whether or not you are a good candidate for the procedure.

 

Dr. Melissa Toyos is an ocular plastic surgeon. That means she specializes in surgery of the eyelid and also at the tissues around the eyes.  Dr. Toyos treated many of the audience members to a Mixto fractional laser treatment on their faces.

 

This technology is explained in her book Mixto Laser Lift.  But, it works to stimulate collagen to thicken and tighten the skin and retexturize fine lines and wrinkles. I was thrilled to be able to experience this technology firsthand.

 

Melissa Toyota is also the inventor of iScience skincare. She has developed a line of eye and facials creams to help prevent the aging process. I utilize these products as my favorite brand of skincare.

 

These products have been specially crafted and do not contain the toxins that I often speak of which we need to eliminate from our personal care products. These products are specifically created to enhance the skin around the eyes and create a youthful appearance. She excludes toxins from her product lines.

 

If you would like to download a list of the toxins that I suggest you remove from your personal care products, you can find the list here.

 

Dr. Toyo's skincare products are available for sale on her website. The skincare regimen that I follow in the morning is Alpha Beta Cleanser, Hydra Peptide Serum, Mixto Hydrate, and a sunscreen.  In the evening, I cleanse again with the Alpha Beta Cleanser, followed by Collagen Building Complex, Mixto Hydrate, and Mixto SILK.

 

If you would like to ask more questions about skincare that is great for keeping your skin looking youthful and not damaging your eyes, please leave a comment below. 

 

I am so grateful to the Drs. Toyos for hosting this event annually. This was my second year to attend the conference. And, I always come away with new tips pearls and techniques to then utilize with my own patients in my clinic.