Definitions

Alphahydroxy Acids
- A naturally occurring substance found in sugarcane, sour milk, fruits and the human body. They can be used to dissolve the intracellular adhesions between dead skin cells.

- Injection of Xylocaine or Novocaine into the area to be operated on combined with IV sedation. Patient is partially awake but may not be aware or care about surgery and may sleep off and on.

- Collagen injections made from your own skin, either left over from other surgery or harvested to be made into collagen. Can then be injected into wrinkles and facial defects. Lasts much longer than bovine cow collagen with less chance for reaction, rejection or resorption.

- A medical condition with recurrent swelling of eyelids in young people.
Blepharoplasty - Eyelid surgery in which excess skin and herniated orbital fat are removed.
Botox (Botulinum) Injections - A derivative a botulism (food poisoning), which can deaden muscles and make wrinkles disappear. Also used to blepharospasm to deaden the spasm and allow normal opening of the eyelid.

Brow Lift - Surgery to correct droopiness of the eyebrows. May be done through a direct approach, forehead approach, scalp approach or through light pipes (endoscopy) and tiny incisions in the scalp

Choristoma - tumors composed of tissues not usually found at the involved site.
Chemical Peels - Application of acid (glycolic, trichloracetic, phenol, etc.) to the face which can cause a rapid resurfacing of the skin.
Cicatrix - Scar; this can often cause Ectropion (Ectropion is when the eyelid turns out. Visit the Lid Malposition page for more details) and lid retraction.
Collagen - A natural substance found in skin. Also used as an injectable substance (both human and from cows) to fill gaps such as wrinkles and scars.
Crow's Feet - The tiny laugh lines around the eye. Botox or Laser resurfacing are sometimes helpful in their removal.
Dermatochalasis - Excess skin and bags of eyelids.

Ecchymosis - Black and blue, bruising which commonly occur after surgery. See photos on the blepharoplasty page. This may be decreased with Arnica Montana.

Ectropion - Out-turning of the eyelid (usually lower eyelid).
Edema - Swelling of tissue which commonly occur after surgery or trauma. See photos on the blepharoplasty page. This may be decreased with Arnica Montana.
Endoscopic Brow Lift- Raising of eyebrows through tiny incisions on the scalp through a light pipe.

Entropion- In-turning of the eyelid (usually lower eyelid) in which lashes can rub the eyeball.

Etiology - synonym for the word cause.
Extraocular Muscles -muscles which move the eye ball
Eyelid Retraction - Eyelids open wider than normal. May also involve inability to fully close the eyelids (Lagophthalmos patients with lagophthalmos have an inability to close eyelids. This may occur, for instance, in patients with Thyroid eye disease. Visit the lagophthalmos page for more details!). This may occur, for instance, in patients with Thyroid eye disease.
Glabella - Area between the eyebrows. Botox or Laser resurfacing are sometimes helpful in diminishing the frown lines.
Glycolic Acid - one of a number of alpha hydroxy acids, a natural substance found in sugar cane. Used on the skin, it loosens the bonds that hold dead skin cells together resulting in more rapid turnover of skin cells.
Hematoma - Collection of blood around an area in the body which commonly occur after surgery or trauma. See photos on the blepharoplasty page. This may be decreased with Arnica Montana.
Incision - The cutting with either a scalpel or laser into tissues.
Lacrimal Drainage System - Near the nose, where the tears drain.
Lacrimal Gland - Origin of the production of tears in the outer, upper eyelid.
Lagophthalmos - Inability to close eyelids. This may occur, for instance, in patients with Thyroid eye disease.
Laser - Light amplifications, stimulated emission radiation. A Laser is commonly used in skin resurfacing to help eliminate wrinkles.

Levator Aponeurosis - part of the muscle responsible for opening the upper eyelid. It is this portion often responsible for the drooping of the eyelid (ptosis).

Levator - palpebrae part of the muscle responsible for opening the upper eyelid. It is this portion often responsible for the drooping of the eyelid (ptosis).
Levator Muscle - All names for the muscle that opens the eye.
Lid Crease - Attachment of the underlying levator aponeurosis from deep within the eyelid out to the under surface of the skin. This results in a crease or fold of skin in the upper eyelid.
Lid Crease Incision - A location for incision where the natural lid fold falls which usually hides the scar created by surgery.

Lid Fold - Skin in the upper lid overlying the lid crease. Often measured using MFD Margin-fold-distance which is measured in millimeters for the eyelid margin.

Mechanical Ptosis - Droopiness of the eyelid blocking the peripheral vision due to excess skin and muscle with an underlying normal levator muscle.

Myogenic Ptosis - Droopiness of the eyelid which blocks the peripheral vision due to a defect of the levator muscle.

Orbicularis Muscle - Forceful muscle that closes the eyelids and runs below the skin of the eyelids. Innervated by the seventh facial nerve.

Permaliner - Tattoo of pigment in the normal eyeliner position. Also used to fill in gaps of lost lashes.

Proptosis - Bulging of eyeball.
Ptosis (Blepharoptosis) - Droopy eyelid.
Punctum - Tear duct opening in eyelid. This is the beginning of the drainage system. See Canalicular trauma page.
Suture - Stitches used to re-approximate tissues in a proper position.

Suture - Absorbable - Sutures which dissolve on their own. They are generally used inside the incision and thus are not typically seen; however, they may also be used when the removal of sutures is otherwise impractical such as young children.

Suture - Non - Absorbable - These need to be cut out in three to fourteen days. Most silk sutures are typically removed 4-7 days following surgery. Others may be need remain in place less or more time depending on their location and on their purpose.

Tarsus or Tarsal Plate - A firm structure supporting and stabilizing the eyelid. The upper eyelid tarsus is larger than the lower.

Thyroid Eye Disease (Thyroid Ophthalmopathy or Orbitopathy) - Disease affecting the orbit and/or eyelids resulting in swelling of the fat, muscles and soft tissues of the eyelid and socket. May result also in bulging (proptosis) and diplopia (double vision).

Transconjunctival Incision - A surgical approach from within the inside of the eyelid; it is usually used when no skin needs to be removed in lower lid blepharoplasty.