Who Should Have Eyelid Surgery?
Do you have droopy eyelids? Are they making it more challenging to see what you need to?
You may be a good candidate for eyelid surgery.
It’s usually performed for medical or cosmetic purposes. You’ll have the surgical procedure performed on the lower or upper eyelid or both to remove excess fat, skin, and muscle. Eyelid surgery can alter the shape of your eyelids, creating a more rejuvenated look.
It’s also performed to improve vision and protect your eyesight. If you have ptosis, dermatochalasis, ectropion, or entropion, eyelid surgery can help treat them. Keep reading to find out if you’re a good candidate for the various types of eyelid surgery below!
Ptosis
Ptosis refers to drooping of the upper eyelids. It can affect one or both eyes.
A common misconception about ptosis is that it’s the same as dermatochalasis. However, these are two different conditions.
Ptosis is due to having a weakened muscle that causes the upper eyelid to become droopy and sag over the eye.
Drooping in ptosis occurs when the eyelid margins or the edge of the upper lid falls from its usual position. Due to the normal aging process, the muscle’s tendon that lifts your lid stretches.
When the tendon stretches, it causes your eyelid to fall. You can also develop a droopy upper eyelid because of:
- Trauma
- Stroke
- Nerve paralysis
- Extended use of contact lenses
- Tumors
- A previous eye surgery like having your cataracts removed
If the edges of your eyelids fall too low and cover part of your pupil, it interferes with the upper part of your vision. Eyelid surgery can address the droopy eyelid to improve vision.
Ptosis Repair surgery allows you to see better by repairing the stretched tendon, correcting the droopy eyelids, and seeing with a less obstructed field of view.
Dermatochalasis
Dermatochalasis is another reason that you may need to undergo eyelid surgery. You may also hear this condition called baggy eyes.
Dermatochalasis is an eyelid condition that can give you a tired appearance. Although the upper eyelids are primarily affected, having dermatochalasis can affect your lower and upper lids.
If your eyelids droop, sag, or cause you concern, they may be more than a cosmetic issue. Having droopy eyelids caused by too much eyelid skin losing elasticity can obstruct your vision.
If the skin around your eyelids overlaps, it can lead to discomfort and impair your vision as it falls over your eyes. You may also experience other issues with excess eyelid tissue like eyelid inflammation, eyelash interference, and ocular irritation.
Most people have dermatochalasis as a result of the natural aging process. You may also develop the condition due to being overweight, experiencing prior trauma or injury, undergoing previous facial surgeries, other diseases, or genetics.
If you have dermatochalasis, signs will often begin showing around 40. As you get older, these will worsen over time. With aging, the excessive upper eyelid skin hangs over your lashes and eyelid margin due to decreased skin elasticity.
When this happens, you might feel like your eyelids are heavier than usual. Dermatochalasis leads to:
- Facial changes like under-eye bags and sagging brows
- Decreased side vision
- Eye strain because of the effort used to raise your lids
You can undergo a blepharoplasty to restore obstructed vision and for cosmetic reasons. The procedure removes excess fat, skin, and muscle from the upper or lower lids. Removing this excess skin helps to minimize the baggy appearance of the skin around your eyes.
Eyelid Malposition
If you have eyelids abnormally positioned, you may have eyelid malposition. Your eyelids should align correctly to:
- Ensure your eyes shut whenever you blink
- Allow adequate tear drainage
- Enable enough tear production to lubricate your eyes
- Protect your eyes from damaging bright light and foreign objects like insects, dust, and wind
Several things can cause eyelid malposition. These include eye infection, facial paralysis, scarring around the eyes, and eye muscle weakness.
You can also develop the condition due to past eyelid surgeries, injury, skin infections, and eyelid growths. Apart from looking unsightly, eyelid malposition results in eye and vision problems, which can become severe if left untreated.
The most common forms of malposition are entropion and ectropion.
Ectropion
Ectropion occurs when your eyelid, mainly the lower lid, turns outward. If the lower lid turns out, it exposes your inner eyelid.
Ectropion causes dry eye symptoms like burning, irritation, eye redness, watery eyes, a gritty feeling, and foreign body sensation. Without appropriate treatment, ectropion can end up damaging your cornea.
Ectropion repair surgery can correct the position of your eyelid if you have ectropion. Doing so addresses dry eye symptoms, improves visual comfort, and protects your vision.
Entropion
If you have entropion, the eyelid, usually the lower lid, turns inward. Entropion causes your lashes to rub against the surface of your eye.
When the eyelashes rub against the surface of the eye, it can result in redness, irritation, and increased sensitivity to wind and light. Entropion can lead to eye infections, irreversible corneal scarring, and eventually vision loss when left untreated.
You can undergo Entropion Repair surgery to realign your eyelid and alleviate entropion symptoms.
Who is a Good Candidate for Eyelid Surgery?
Not everyone is a good fit for having eyelid surgery. You may be a good candidate for this procedure if:
- You’re 35 and older
- You don’t smoke
- You’re in good health
- You have realistic expectations about what a blepharoplasty can achieve
- You have excess skin around your eyelids that makes it harder to see
Certain medical conditions make eyelid surgery riskier. For this reason, it’s essential to inform your eye doctor if you have any of the following:
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Thyroid problems
- Circulatory disorders
- Glaucoma
- Cardiovascular disease
Choose Excellent Eyelid Surgeons
At Eye Consultants of North Dakota, our excellent eye surgeons perform eyelid surgeries to improve the function and appearance of your eyelids. Our focus is on rejuvenating your eyelids, making you look and feel younger while improving your vision.
Want to start seeing the world around you clearly once more? Schedule an appointment at Eye Consultants of North Dakota in Fargo, ND, today!