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Eyelid Surgery
Complete eye
health includes having healthy eyes and healthy eyelids. Common eyelid problems
include excess eyelid skin, droopy eyelids or eyelids that turn inward or
outward. The problems can cause eye discomfort, limit vision, and affect
appearance. Fortunately, they can be corrected with surgery.
Ptosis: upper
eye drooping
Ptosis (pronounced "toe-sis") can either be apparent at
birth (congenital), or develop with age (involutional).
A child with
congenital Ptosis may tilt his or her head backward in order to see, so the
condition does not always lead to poor vision. However, children with Ptosis
should be examined by an ophthalmologist because they may have other associated
eye problems.
Surgery to
correct ptosis is commonly recommended in the preschool years to improve the
appearance and make it easier for the child to see. The type of surgery varies,
depending upon how much the eyelids droop.
Involutional
Ptosis develops with aging. It may worsen after other types of eye surgery or
eyelid swelling. Ptosis may limit your side or even your central vision. If
Ptosis occurs in one eye, it may create an uneven appearance. Surgical
shortening of the muscle that opens the eyelid will often lead to better vision
and improved appearance.
Excess eyelid
skin
Over time, many people develop excess eyelid skin. Eyelid skin is
the thinnest skin of the body, so it tends to stretch. In the upper eyelid,
this stretched skin may limit your side vision. The same problem causes "bags"
to form in the lower eyelid.
The excess skin
in the upper eyelid can be removed surgically by a procedure call
blepharoplasty. It improves side vision and other symptoms. Removal of the
excess skin in either the upper or lower eyelids may also improve appearance.
If excess fatty tissue is present, it may be removed at the same
time.
Ectropion:
outward turning of the lower eyelid
Stretching of the lower eyelid from
age may cause the eyelid to droop downward and turn outward. This condition is
called ectropion. Eyelid burns or skin disease can also cause this problem.
Ectropion can cause dryness of the eyes, excessive tearing, redness, and
sensitivity to light and wind. Surgery usually restores the normal postion of
the eyelid, improving these symptoms.
Entropion:
inward turning of the lower eyelid
Entropion also occurs most commonly
as a result of aging. Infection and scarring inside the eyelid are other cause
of entropion. When the eyelid turns inward, the eyelashes and skin rub against
the eye, making it red, irritated, watery, and sensitive to light and
wind.
If entropion is
not treated, an infection may develop on the clear surface of the eye called
cornea. With surgery, the eyelid can be turned outward to its normal position,
protecting the eye and improving these symptoms.
Eyelid plastic
surgery
Eyelid plastic surgery is almost always performed on an
outpatient basis using local anesthesia. Before surgery, your ophthalmologist
will perform an eye examination and make recommendations. Photographs and
side-vision testing are often required by insurance companies before
blepharplasty and Ptosis surgery.
If you are
planning to have surgery, be sure to tell your ophthalmologist if you are
taking aspirin or aspirin-containing drugs or blood thinners or if you have a
bleeding problem. Eyelid plastic surgery procedures can be done safely in an
outpatient setting by your ophthalmologist. The improvement in vision, comfort,
and appearance can be very gratifying. |
