OCULOPLASTY

The Oculoplastic service deals with diseases of the eyelids, orbit and lacrimal system. Common disorders treated include congenital eyelid deformities, thyroid eye disease, orbital tumors in children and adults, eyelid reconstruction after skin cancer removal, tear drainage problems and cosmetic eyelid surgery. Because of the multitude of different surgical options each patient’s treatment plan is designed specifically for them to obtain the best functional and aesthetic outcome. Your eyelids help protect your eyes. When you blink, your eyelids spread moisture over your eyes. Blinking also helps move dirt or other particles off the surface of the eye. You close your eyelids when you see something coming towards your eyes. This can help protect against injuries.Like most other parts of your body, your eyelids can get infected, inflamed, or even develop cancer. There are also specific eyelid problems, including

Treatment of eyelid problems depends on the cause.

Eyelid drooping is excessive sagging of the upper eyelid.
A drooping eyelid can stay constant; worsen over time (progressive), or come and go (intermittent). It can be one-sided or on both sides. When drooping is one-sided (unilateral), it is easy to detect by comparing the two eyelids. Drooping is more difficult to detect when it occurs on both sides, or if there is only a slight problem.A furrowed forehead or a chin-up head position may indicate that someone is trying to see under his or her drooping lids. Eyelid drooping can make someone appear sleepy or tired.Drooping lids are either present at birth (congenital) or develop later in life. A drooping eyelid is usually not a serious problem, but your health care provider will need to examine your eyes and lids.

Causes
Drooping eyelids may be due to a variety of conditions include aging, diabetes, stroke, Horner syndrome, myasthenia gravis, or a brain tumor or other cancer that affects nerve or muscle reactions. Below are some common causes.Both eyelids drooping:

One eyelid drooping:

Home Care
Below is a list of recommendations based on the various causes of eye drooping:

Interventions:
Surgery may be necessary to correct problems with the muscles that open the eyelid (levator muscle dysfunction).
You may get special spectacle frames that suspend the eyelid by traction with a wire. Usually these frames help patients with temporary, partial paralysis, or those who are not good candidates for surgery.

Dacryocystitis is infection of the tear (lacrimal) sac.
The tear sac is a small chamber into which tears drain. The usual cause of dacryocystitis is a blockage of the nasolacrimal duct, which leads from the tear sac into the nose. Dacryocystitis may occur suddenly (acute) or be longstanding (chronic). In acute infection, the area around the tear sac is painful, red, and swollen. The area around the eye may become red and watery and may ooze pus. Slight pressure applied to the tear sac may push thick material through the punctum (the opening at the inner corner of the eyelid near the nose).
Symptoms
Often the infection is mild. Sometimes, the infection is severe and can cause fever. Sometimes a collection of pus (abscess) may form, which can rupture through the skin, creating a passage for drainage.
Diagnosis

A doctor bases the diagnosis on the symptoms and examination findings.

Treatment

Ectropion is the turning out of the eyelid so that the inner surface is exposed. It most often affects the lower eyelid.

Causes
The aging process very often causes Ectropion. The connective tissue of the eyelid becomes weaker, which causes the lid to turn out so that the edge of the lower lid is no longer against the eyeball. It can also be caused by:

Symptoms
Symptoms include:

Exams and Tests
The health care provider will make a diagnosis by doing an exam of the eyes and eyelids. Special tests are not needed most of the time.
Treatment
Artificial tears (a lubricant) may ease dryness and keep the cornea moist. Surgery to tighten the muscles that hold the eyelids in place is very often effective. It may be done as outpatient surgery using medicine to numb the area (local anesthesia).
Prognosis
The outcome very often good with treatment.
Possible Complications
Corneal dryness and irritation may lead to:

Corneal ulcers can threaten vision.

Entropion is the turning in of an edge of an eyelid, causing the lashes to rub against the eye. It usually is seen on the lower eyelid.

Causes
Entropion can be present at birth (congenital).In babies, it rarely causes problems because the lashes are very soft and do not easily damage the eye. In older people, the condition is usually caused by a spasm or weakening of the muscles surrounding the lower part of the eye.Although rare in North America and Europe, trachoma infection can cause scarring of the inner side of the lid, which may cause entropion. Trachoma scarring is one of the three leading causes of blindness in the world.
Risk factors for entropion are:

Exams and Tests
Your health care provider can usually diagnose this condition by looking at your eyelids. Special tests are usually not necessary.
Treatment
Artificial tears can keep the eye from becoming dry and may help you feel better. Surgery to correct the position of the eyelids usually works well.
Prognosis
The outlook is usually good if the condition is treated before eye damage occurs.
Possible Complications
Dry eye and irritation may increase the risk of:

Botox is a drug made from a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. It’s the same toxin that causes a life-threatening type of food poisoning called Botulism. Doctors use it in small doses to treat health problems, including

Botox injections work by weakening or paralyzing certain muscles or by blocking certain nerves. The effects last about three to twelve months, depending on what you are treating. The most common side effects are pain, swelling, or bruising at the injection site. You could also have flu-like symptoms, headache, and upset stomach. Injections in the face may also cause temporary drooping eyelids. You should not use Botox if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.