Eye Cancer

You should have honest and open discussions with your eye doctor and the rest of your cancer team. There are several questions you should ask to get a clear understanding of your cancer and the type of treatment options available to you. It is important to understand that your doctor wants to clear all your doubts and answer any questions you may have.

Khan Eyelid and Facial Aesthetics, led by oculoplastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Tanya Khan, provides advanced eye care procedures to patients in Plano, Dallas, Texas, and surrounding locations.

First Notification of the Eye Cancer

You should consider asking the following questions when you are first told of the eye cancer by your ophthalmologist or another doctor:

• What type of eye cancer is it?
• How far has the cancer spread?
• Which stage of eye cancer am I on? What does that mean?
• Do I need to get further tests for determining a treatment plan?
• Should I see other doctors or surgeons?
• What factors should I consider while choosing a treatment option?
• Who can I ask for clearing my concerns about insurance coverage and other costs?

Determining the Treatment Plan

Consider asking the following questions when you speak with your doctor:

• Do you have experience in treating this particular cancer type?
• Do I need a second opinion? Can you recommend a cancer center?
• What are my treatment options and what do you recommend?
• Is the treatment focused on curing, relieving symptoms or prolonging my life among other goals?
• Are there any risks or side effects to these treatments?
• Am I at a risk of losing vision or part of my eye? Will I need an eye surgeon or a board certified plastic surgeon?

During The Treatment

You should know the kind of results to look for once the treatment begins. These questions should help you clear all your doubts:

• How do you know the treatment is working?
• Are there any side effects or symptoms I should tell you about right away?
• What do you recommend for managing the side effects?
• How do I reach you on weekends, holidays or at nights?
• Should I limit my activities in any way?
• Can you recommend a mental health professional if I feel distressed, depressed, or overwhelmed?
• Will I need an oculoplastic and reconstructive surgeon once the treatment is over?

After Eye Cancer Treatment

Once the treatment is over, you should ask these questions:

• What kind of follow-up do I need?
• Are there any symptoms I should watch for?
• How do we know the tumor is gone and won’t come back? What are my options if the eye cancer comes back?

These are just sample questions. Feel free to add any other questions you may have. For instance, you may want specific timelines about your recovery and the kind of results you can expect. You should also consider asking about any clinical trials you may qualify for. Board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Tanya Khan receives patients from Plano, Dallas, Texas, and nearby areas for safe and proven eye care treatments.

Contact Khan Eyelid and Facial Aesthetics and Oculoplastic & Reconstructive Surgeon Dr. Tanya Khan Today to Schedule an Appointment

For more information about procedures and treatments at Khan Eyelid and Facial Aesthetics by Ophthalmic surgeon Dr. Tanya Khan. Click here to contact us.

Taking patients from in and around Dallas, Plano, Fort Worth, Grapevine, Garland, Mesquite, Carrollton, Irving, Frisco, Texas and more.

Eye Cancer

Eye melanoma has several treatment options. Primary factors involved in determining the right course of treatment include spread of cancer, location of tumor, and the likelihood of saving the eye and vision. You should speak with an eye doctor to understand the various types of eye melanoma and respective treatment options.

Khan Eyelid and Facial Aesthetics, led by oculoplastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Tanya Khan, provides advanced eye care procedures to patients in Plano, Dallas, Texas, and surrounding communities.

Choroidal Melanoma

Treatment for choroidal melanoma can be categorized into:

Small melanoma

Your ophthalmologist will usually be the first person to diagnose this condition. You will need to speak with an oculoplastic& reconstructive surgeon about treatment options. Few popular options are:

• Laser therapy involving transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT). This is usually performed with brachytherapy.
• Radiation therapy including brachytherapy (plaque therapy), stereotactic radiation therapy, or proton beam therapy.
• Surgery for removing the tumor. In some cases, extensive surgery may be required involving enucleation or removing the entire eye. You may require reconstructive surgery by a board certified plastic surgeon afterwards.

Medium-sized melanoma

These are usually treated the same way small tumors are approached. It is best to discuss with your surgeon the best course of treatment. You can choose between laser therapy, radiation therapy and surgery. Sometimes, laser therapy is conducted along with radiation therapy, such as brachytherapy.

Large melanoma

Large sized choroidal melanoma is usually treated with radiation. Stereotactic radiation therapy and proton beam therapy is usually used before any other treatment. If radiation doesn’t work, other therapy options with lasers or a surgery may be considered.

Generally, enucleation or removal of the entire eye is performed by most surgeons for removing large melanomas. This is usually the case where radiation is not an option. Enucleation surgery may be considered in patients where the cancer has spread to more than 50% of the eye orbit and causes significant pain. Surgery is recommended in cases where vision loss has already occurred too.

Your doctor may consider removing other eye structures in the eye socket in cases where the cancer has spread to outside the eye. This includes part of the eyelid or eye muscles.

Iris Melanoma

Iris melanoma or cancer in the colored part of the eye is usually slow-growing and small in size. Patients with early stage iris melanoma are recommended to watch the tumor closely to see if it grows. The tumor is monitored with a series of special photographs. Radiation therapy or surgery (most common) can be used if the cancer grows.

Conjunctival Melanoma

Conjunctival melanoma is rare, but aggressive. It spreads faster than most uveal melanomas and can affect local structures in the eye orbit. In some cases, it can spread to distant organs, like the lungs and liver. In this case, the situation becomes life-threatening.

Surgery-focused treatment is used in conjunctival melanoma to remove the tumor completely. Adjuvant treatment options may include topical chemotherapy with Mitomycin-C or interferon and radiation therapy. Board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Tanya Khan receives patients from Plano, Dallas, Texas, and nearby areas for safe and proven eye care treatments.

Contact Khan Eyelid and Facial Aesthetics and Oculoplastic & Reconstructive Surgeon Dr. Tanya Khan Today to Schedule an Appointment

For more information about procedures and treatments at Khan Eyelid and Facial Aesthetics by Ophthalmic surgeon Dr. Tanya Khan. Click here to contact us.

Taking patients from in and around Dallas, Plano, Fort Worth, Grapevine, Garland, Mesquite, Carrollton, Irving, Frisco, Texas and more.

Mole Removal 

Moles and skin tags are one of the type skin imperfections that can occur at any time. While in most cases, these skin growths are harmless, they may cause cosmetic concerns to many people. Sometimes these abnormal skin growths may also appear on the eyelids. This can be quite conspicuous because eyes are one of the first facial features that others will notice.  

The good news is that your eye surgeon can safely remove the skin tags and moles from your eyelids and restore a natural skin appearance. Board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Tanya Khan provides mole and skin tag removal from the eyelids and other parts of the face and body to patients in Plano, Dallas, Texas, and surrounding communities.  

Characteristics of Moles 

Moles can significantly vary in shape and size, ranging from tiny dots to large spots on any part of your body, face, or eyelids. A mole could be flush with skin tissue or elevated. In most cases, the mole will be of a darker shade than your natural skin color. Moles develop when melanin pigment (which provides color to your skin) accumulates in a particular area.  

Moles on your eyelids may be black, brown, blue-gray, or yellow in color. In rare cases, moles can also be malignant. If you notice any change in the color, shape, or size of the mole on your eyelid or in another part of the face or body, it could be a sign of malignancy. A skillful eye surgeon can remove both cancerous and benign moles from your eyelids in a safe and precise manner.  

Characteristics of Skin Tags 

Skin tags are tiny, oval-shaped growths that will protrude outward from your eyelid skin (or facial skin). These outgrowths are soft and harmless, and may commonly occur in the eyelid area because the skin frequently rubs or folds together in that area.  

Skin tags may be slightly darker than your skin tone, or very similar to it. When they appear on your eyelids, they may not cause discomfort or pain, but may get irritated if you rub clothing or makeup over them. Cause of these abnormal skin growths remains unknown. 

How to remove moles and skin tags from eyelids? 

During your initial consultation, your eye specialist will explain to you the best treatment options for the removal of a mole or skin tag from your eyelid. Excision surgery, punch biopsy, and shaving off the mole or skin tag are some of the options available to your surgeon for their removal.  

Your surgeon will apply a numbing agent to ensure that you remain completely comfortable while the mole or skin is removed from your eyelid. Radiofrequency technology and laser are also safe and effective ways to eliminate moles and skin tags. In the delicate eyelid area, your surgeon will select the safest and most effective treatment option for their removal.  

Full excision, shave excision, or non-surgical mole and skin tag removal techniques can be performed at your surgeon’s office on an outpatient basis. It will take less than 30 minutes to complete the procedure. Oculoplastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Tanya Khan receives patients from Plano Dallas, Texas, and nearby areas for mole and skin tag removal from the eyelids.   

Contact Khan Eyelid and Facial Aesthetics and Oculoplastic & Reconstructive Surgeon Dr. Tanya Khan Today to Schedule an Appointment

For more information about procedures and treatments at Khan Eyelid and Facial Aesthetics by Ophthalmic surgeon Dr. Tanya Khan. Click here to contact us.

Taking patients from in and around Dallas, Plano, Fort Worth, Grapevine, Garland, Mesquite, Carrollton, Irving, Frisco, Texas and more.