Lid Surgeries

We see and treat patients with a whole range of eyelid problems. These are often age-related such as a drooping of the lower lid (‘ectropion’), or from sun damage causing skin cancers.

Most often management is by day-case under local anaesthesia. Patients usually find this comfortable and easy to deal with, with a low complication risk and high success rate.

	Ectropion: This is an outward rotation of the eyelid margin. It may be associated with contracture of the lower lid skin, exposing the membrane lining the back of the eyelid. This makes the lower lid appear bright red. The tear duct is frequently narrowed and everted resulting in a watery eye.
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	The irritation and redness associated with this condition can be treated initially with moisturising eye drops and artificial tears. Surgery is usually required to correct the problem.
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• Sagging of eyelids from eyes
• Dryness, redness
• Excessive tearing
• Sensitivity to light and wind
• Burning, gritty, sandy feeling

Entropion:
This is an inward rotation of the eyelid margin. This causes the lashes to rub against the eye causing severe irritation. The eye may appear red and inflamed. Surgery is usually necessary to correct the problem.

• Excessive tearing
• Irritation, scratchiness, burning feeling
• Sandy, gritty feeling
• Red eye

Blepharoplasty:
Excess upper lid skin and fat is called "dermatocholasis". This may cause headaches, a feeling of heaviness on the upper lids and may interfere with the field of vision. A blepharoplasty removes the excess fat and skin from the eyelids.

This procedure can also be done for cosmetic reasons, making you look brighter, younger and less tired. The procedure is not designed to remove crows feet or other wrinkles, it is designed to remove excess fat and skin from the upper and / or lower lids.

Symptoms:

• Excess skin and weight on the upper eyelids
• Decrease in field of vision due to excess skin on upper eyelids
• Large sagging areas under eyes from heavy excess skin
• Redness and tearing of eyes caused by weight of lower lids pulling away from eye