Oculoplastic and tear duct surgery
Oculoplastic surgery deals with the structures that surround and protect the eye: the eyelids, the orbit and the tear drainage system. Most of its procedures have a functional indication, meaning they solve a problem of vision, of protecting the eye, or of watering.
Drooping eyelid (ptosis and dermatochalasis)
Over the years the skin of the upper eyelid stretches and the muscle that lifts it loses strength. When the lid covers part of the pupil, the patient loses upper field of vision, raises the eyebrows to compensate, and ends the day with a headache and fatigue.
Functional blepharoplasty removes the excess skin, and ptosis repair works on the levator muscle. Both are done under local anesthesia with sedation, as day surgery. When the indication is functional it is documented with photographs and a visual field test.
Chalazion and stye
These are the most common inflammatory lesions of the eyelid. A stye is acute and painful; a chalazion is a lump that persists after the inflammation settles.
Initial management is warmth and lid hygiene. If the lump persists beyond a few weeks, it is drained in a short procedure under local anesthesia. A chalazion that keeps coming back in exactly the same spot should be assessed to rule out another cause.
Tear drainage
Constant watering is usually due to blockage of the duct that drains tears into the nose. In babies, congenital blockage is managed with massage of the tear sac and, if it persists, with probing. In adults, chronic blockage is treated with dacryocystorhinostomy, which creates a new drainage route.
Lesions and the orbit
We assess and treat eyelid skin lesions, with histopathology where appropriate, entropion and ectropion (an eyelid that turns inward or outward), and orbital disease together with other specialties.
About cosmetic effect
Several of these procedures also have a cosmetic effect, but they are indicated and explained on functional grounds. Results vary between patients and no procedure guarantees a specific outcome.
Frequently asked questions
Is eyelid surgery covered?
When the indication is functional, meaning the eyelid blocks the field of vision and this is documented with photographs and visual field testing, it may be covered. When the purpose is purely cosmetic, it is not. Your specialist will tell you which applies to you.
How long does the swelling last after blepharoplasty?
Swelling and bruising peak between the second and fourth day and settle substantially within two weeks. The final result is visible at two to three months.
My baby has one eye watering all the time. Is that normal?
Congenital tear duct blockage is common and often resolves on its own during the first year with massage. It should still be assessed to rule out other causes and to decide whether probing is needed.
Will there be visible scars?
Incisions are placed in the natural folds of the eyelid, where the scar tends to be hidden. The final quality of the scar also depends on each person's skin.
This information is educational
What is described here is the usual approach and does not replace a medical assessment. The diagnosis and treatment for your case are decided by your treating specialist.
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