What Oculoplastic Procedure is Right For Me?
Oculoplastic surgery refers to a range of procedures involving the eyelids, tear ducts, and other areas around the eye. It can treat many conditions. These range from droopy eyelids and obstructed tear ducts to eyelid tumors.
This type of procedure can be performed for both medical and cosmetic reasons. It includes techniques that rejuvenate your appearance, like brow lifts and facelifts.
The decision to get an oculoplastic procedure is not always easy. The ideal procedure for you depends on your needs and desired outcome.
Whatever those may be, our oculoplastic surgeons at Eye Associates of Tallahassee are highly trained and dedicated to helping you to see and feel your best. Keep reading to find out what oculoplastic procedure is right for you!
Blepharoplasty
Blepharoplasty is an effective method of treating excess skin that can droop around the eyelid area. Excess skin can result from age, sun exposure, and smoking. You may also be more likely to develop droopy eyelids if you have a family history of it.
There are two types of blepharoplasty: upper eyelid and lower eyelid. Also sometimes referred to as an eye lift, upper lid blepharoplasty removes excess skin as well as fatty tissue from the upper eyelid area.
Lower lid blepharoplasty removes excess skin and fat from the lower lid area, giving you the appearance of bags under your eyes.
Blepharoplasty is a simple outpatient procedure. It can be an excellent option for those looking to remove excess skin and fat from their eyelid areas.
Ptosis Surgery
Ptosis is an eye condition caused by a weakened eyelid muscle, which also causes upper eyelid drooping. This eye condition can affect one or both eyes.
With ptosis, drooping may be minimal or severe, sometimes enough to block the pupil. As you get older, a muscle in your eye called the levator muscle can begin to weaken. This can make it difficult for the upper eyelid to remain raised.
Many ptosis patients find significant relief with ptosis repair surgery. The goal of the procedure is to re-tighten the levator muscle.
Ptosis repair can be medically necessary and, if so, is often covered by insurance. It can also be elective or performed for purely cosmetic reasons.
Surgery for Lacrimal Drainage Disorder
Lacrimal drainage disorder occurs when there is a problem with the eye’s natural tear drainage system. Often, this causes an increase in tearing because there is nowhere for the many tears in the eye to go.
This can cause many symptoms, including blurry vision, skin irritation around the eyes, and can even make you more prone to infection. Lacrimal drainage disorder can result from an overproduction of tears. It can also result from a lack of tear drainage.
Treatments like artificial tears and oral medication can help with this disorder, but they are not always enough. In some cases, surgery will be recommended.
The first surgical option is called punctoplasty. With this, the tiny drainage openings of the eye are widened.
A procedure called probe and tube can also be effective. During this procedure, your eye doctor places a small tube in the tear duct, further opening the drainage system.
Another option is dacryocystorhinostomy, or DCR. During a DCR, your eye doctor creates a direct pathway between the eye and nose.
Similarly, during conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy, or CDCR, your eye doctor inserts a small tube in the corner of the eye socket, which leads into the nose. The aim of all of these treatments and procedures is to promote better drainage of tears.
Removal of Eyelid Tumors
Tumors can form anywhere on your body, including your eyelids. They can be benign, such as ductal cysts, inclusion cysts, and styes.
They can also be malignant. Several types of skin cancers can develop on your eyelids.
These include basal cell carcinoma, sebaceous gland carcinoma, and melanoma. Sun exposure can increase your risk of developing these.
The recommended treatment for an eyelid tumor depends on the tumor type. If it is benign, surgery may not be needed at all.
Some tumors may need surgery, radiation, or another type of treatment. If recommended, your oculoplastic surgeon can work with a Mohs dermatologic surgeon to remove a cancerous tumor and reconstruct the eyelid.
Orbital Tumor Surgery
Tumors can also occur in the orbit of your eye. The orbit is the area where your eyeball sits. Tumors behind the eye can cause the eye to bulge forward, which is known as proptosis.
Orbital tumors include cysts, vascular lesions, and lymphomas. As with eyelid tumors, not all orbital tumors will require treatment.
At Eye Associates of Tallahassee, our highly trained oculoplastic surgeons will thoroughly evaluate the tumor to determine the best course of treatment.
Entropion and Ectropion Surgery
Entropion or ectropion are both types of eyelid malpositioning. With entropion, the eyelid and lashes turn inward. This can irritate the cornea, leading to discomfort, excess tearing, impaired vision, and more.
The symptoms of entropion are similar to ectropion. However, with ectropion, the eyelid and lashes turn outward instead of inward.
This creates a gap between the eyelids and the cornea, leaving it open and potentially causing irritation and infection. Eye drops and ointments can help to provide temporary treatment for entropion and ectropion.
Surgery may be recommended to tighten the eyelid. This can allow the lids and lashes to return to the appropriate position.
Thyroid Eye Disease Surgery
Thyroid eye disease, also known as TED, is a rare eye condition that causes the eye muscles to become inflamed. You may experience blurry or double vision as well as excessive watering, pain, and a foreign body sensation.
There are a few different procedures that eye doctors can perform to treat thyroid eye disease. Options include orbital decompression, eye muscle surgery, and eyelid surgery.
These procedure aims to reduce eye bulging and pressure on the optic nerve, to prevent vision loss.
