Eyelid surgery not only improves the appearance of your eyelids but also helps your vision as sagging skin around your eyes can reduce your peripheral vision. Some common things eyelid survey can treat includes loose skin, puffy eyelids, and excess skin or fine wrinkles on your lower eyelid.
If you’re considering eyelid surgery, it can be difficult to understand the differences and what’s right for you. That’s why we’ve put together a list with everything you need to know.
Common eyelid surgeries include:
- Blepharoplasty
- Ectropion
- Entropion
- Dacryocystorhinostomy
Interested in learning more about eyelid surgery? Contact the experts at TN Oculoplastics.
Blepharoplasty
If you have saggy or droopy eyelids, excess skin on your upper or lower eyelids, or bags under your eyes, blepharoplasty can help with these conditions. Excess skin can sometimes block your vision and limit your full range of vision. This surgery removes excess skin and reduces or gets rid of these vision problems. It can also make your eyes look younger and more alert.
Ectropion
Ectropion is when the lower eyelid droops away from the eye and turns outwards. This condition mainly affects the lower eyelid and can happen in one or both eyes. As it can cause discomfort in your eyes, you can use things like artificial tears or ointments to ease symptoms but surgery is generally required to fully correct it.
If caused by muscle and ligament relaxation due to aging, your surgeon will likely remove a small part of your lower eyelid at the lower edge and then stitch it back together to tighten the tendons and muscles. If it’s caused by scar tissues such as from an injury or previous surgery, your surgeon may use a skin graft to support the lower lid.
Entropion
Entropion is when your eyelid turns inward. This can cause a great deal of discomfort and irritation as it makes your eyelashes and skin rub against your eye’s surface. If left untreated, entropion can cause damage to your cornea, the transparent covering in the front part of your eye, and lead to issues like eye infections and vision loss. To fix it, your surgeon will tighten your lid to keep it in place.
Dacryocystorhinostomy
If you have a blocked tear duct, your tears can’t drain normally, leaving you with watery, irritated eyes. This can be fixed through dacryocystorhinostomy, a surgery that creates a new path for years to drain between your eyes and nose.
While the cause of a blocked tear duct isn’t always known, it can often occur from a variety of health problems like trauma to the nose, chronic nasal and sinus inflammation, and anatomical problems that you were born with. Symptoms of a blocked tear duct include tearing, discharge from the eye, and pain in the tear duct or surrounding area.
Let The Experts at TN Oculoplastics Help You:
At Tennessee Oculoplastics, we specialize in ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery. We are a specialized area of ophthalmology that is focused on the eyelids, tear ducts, and the orbits of the eye. Whether you’re interested in medical or cosmetic eyelid surgery, our team is here to help you find the procedure that works best for you and outline a course of action.
Contact us today for more information about our specialties and team of physicians.