Eyelid Surgery

Eyelids that are floppy, droopy, baggy, hollow, turning-in, turning-out, or have lumps and bumps may require eyelid surgery.

ENTROPION SURGERY

This surgery is performed on turning-in eyelids. The procedure takes around 30 minutes and is carried out under local anaesthetic (your eyelid is made numb by injection and you remain awake). Your surgeon will use very fine dissolvable stitches to tighten both the lid and the muscles that keep the lid in the correct position. Following surgery, you will have an eye pad for a few hours and you will be given antibiotic ointment to use.

Surgical Risks

Following entropion surgery your lid will have minor swelling and bruising which will settle in 1-2 weeks. Post-operative bleeding and infection are uncommon. Occasionally further surgery will be required to deal with a recurrent entropion.

Success Rate

Entropion surgery is successful on over 95% of patients, with the eyelid settling with little or no discomfort. The risk of serious corneal infection from the entropion will be gone.

ECTROPION SURGERY  

This surgery is performed on turning-out eyelids. It usually takes around 30 minutes and is carried out under local anaesthetic (your eyelid is made numb by injection and you remain awake). Your surgeon will use very fine dissolvable stitches to tighten both the lid and the rotate the lid into the correct position. To help relieve watering you may also require a little procedure to open the lower lid tear drainage hole. Following surgery, you will have an eye pad for a few hours and you will be given antibiotic ointment to use.

Surgical Risks

Following Ectropion surgery your lid will have minor swelling and bruising which will settle in 1-2 weeks. Post-operative bleeding and infection are uncommon. Occasionally further surgery will be required to deal with a recurrent ectropion.

Success Rate

Ectropion surgery is successful in controlling excessive watering in over 75% of patients. Occasionally patients will require additional surgery to improve their tear drainage.

PTOSIS SURGERY  

This surgery is performed for droopy eyelids. It usually takes about 60 minutes and is carried out under local anaesthetic (your eyelid is made numb by injection and you remain awake). Surgery involves making a cut in your upper lid and tightening the muscle that lifts the lid. During surgery, you will sit up to allow assessment of your lid height and contour. When all the adjustments have been made, the wound will be closed using very fine dissolvable stitches. Following surgery, you will have an eye pad for a few hours and you will be given antibiotic ointment and some lubricating gel to use.

Surgical Risks

Following Ptosis surgery your lid will have minor swelling and bruising which will settle in 1-2 weeks. Post-operative bleeding and infection are uncommon. We will aim to match the two eyelids perfectly but this is not always possible.

Success Rate

Ptosis surgery has a high success rate with only 5% of patients requiring further surgery to make adjustments to the lid height.

BLEPHAROPLASTY SURGERY 

This surgery is performed on those suffering with sagging or baggy eyelids. It usually takes about 30 minutes and is carried out under local anaesthetic (your eyelid is made numb by injection and you remain awake). Surgery involves carefully assessing the amount of excess skin and then removing it, sometimes together with fat. The wound will be closed using very fine dissolvable stitches. Following surgery, you will have an eye pad for a few hours and you will be given antibiotic ointment to use.

Surgical Risks

Following blepharoplasty surgery your lid will have minor swelling and bruising which will settle in 1-2 weeks. Post-operative bleeding and infection are uncommon.

Post-Operative Advice

If your lids are sore and swollen following surgery you may benefit from an icepack (e.g. a pack of frozen peas in a clean tea towel) held against your eyelids for a few minutes. Sleeping either in an armchair or in bed with your head propped up with pillows will help reduce the swelling of your eyes overnight.

Who will I see for treatment?

Eyelid problems can all be treated by our Oculoplastic Specialists: Mr Boyce, Miss Chilinska.