Aesthetic Eye Surgery
The appearance of the area around the eyes is one of the most important features of a person’s overall image. Changes in this area — such as asymmetry, wrinkles, under-eye bags or drooping — can be surgically corrected to give the patient a younger, healthier look.
In mild cases, fillers can also help — without surgery.
Can Bags Under the Eyes Be Treated?
Today, structural or age-related under-eye bags can be removed through aesthetic surgery, providing a younger and healthier appearance.
What Is Eyelid Ptosis? Who Develops It? Is There a Treatment?
Eyelid ptosis is a downward displacement of the upper eyelid.
It may be congenital or appear later as a result of injury or ageing.
Rarely, it can also be a sign of certain nerve or muscle diseases. The cause of ptosis is reduced or absent function of the muscle that lifts the upper eyelid. The type of surgery depends on how much function the muscle has retained.
Today, ptosis surgery can be performed even in babies and young children.
What Are the Other Eyelid Deformities?
Entropion is an inward turning of the eyelid. It is most often age-related, but may also result from injuries, excessive contraction of the lower lid or, occasionally, be congenital. Because the lashes turn inwards toward the eye, they cause irritation, a foreign-body sensation, watering and corneal erosion.
Ectropion is an outward turning of the eyelid. It can result from ageing, facial paralysis, allergies, scarring after injury, and rarely it is congenital. Because the eyelid no longer closes, the eye dries and ulcers can develop in advanced cases. Treatment is surgical.
In a condition called xanthelasma, yellow plaques appear on the eyelids, especially the upper lids. These patients should be evaluated for diabetes and cholesterol.
What Is Lacrimal Duct Obstruction?
The function of tears is to moisten the surface of the eye, provide lubrication and wash away foreign material. Tears drain into the nose through the lacrimal duct. The drainage system begins with a small opening (punctum) and canaliculus on the upper and lower eyelids, leads into the lacrimal sac and then drains through a fine canal into the nose. The most important disorder of this system is obstruction of the tear duct.
Persistent watering of the eye, discharge, redness and sometimes a painful swelling over the lacrimal sac (at the root of the nose) are the main symptoms. Duct obstruction can be congenital, or it may develop later in life. In newborns, a lacrimal duct that is closed at birth normally opens spontaneously in the first month of life; if this is delayed, watering and discharge appear.
How Is Tear Duct Obstruction Treated?
In babies, if the massage recommended by the doctor is not sufficient, probing under general anaesthesia is performed.
The only treatment for adult lacrimal duct obstruction is surgery.
In recent years, laser surgery for tear duct obstruction has become available in the United States and several European countries, as well as in Turkey. The technique uses a 980 nm diode laser system.
With laser surgery there is no external skin incision: the duct is approached from the upper end (punctum), the lacrimal sac is reached and high-energy laser is used to open a new channel through the nasal bone and mucosa.
Eyelid Tumours
Do not forget that eyelid tumours can be completely removed with surgery.
The Eye in Facial Palsy
In facial palsy the eyelids cannot open and close normally and so cannot protect the eye properly. To both protect the eye and achieve a more aesthetic appearance, various eyelid procedures can be performed depending on the severity of the paralysis.
Prosthetic Eye
Sometimes an eye that no longer sees has to be removed because of infection, raised intra-ocular pressure, severe pain or tumour.
In such cases a prosthetic eye is fitted to correct the resulting deformity. For better aesthetic results, mobile prosthetic eyes are now used.
The eye colour is matched to that of the remaining eye, so that the difference between the two cannot be seen.
What Problems Can Develop in Patients Who Use a Prosthetic Eye?
After long-term wear of a prosthesis, some patients develop lower-lid laxity, hollowing of the orbit, narrowing of the socket, eyelid drooping or inward turning of the lid. Did you know that these problems can also be corrected with surgery, restoring a more natural appearance?
You can contact our hospital with any questions about eye health, obtain detailed information about your eye problems and learn about the treatment process.
Prepared by the Editorial Board of Eye Foundation Hospitals.
