Conditions & Treatments
Remedial
There are some common eye conditions that cause distressing symptoms even though the sight is not affected.
- Inflamed or irritable eyelids (Blepharitis)
- Sore tired eyes (dry eye)
- Watering eyes
Restorative
Ageing changes in the eyelids and upper face can lead to obscured vision (in eyelid or brow Ptosis) or malposition (in Entropion and Ectropion) to protect the ocular surface.
- Droopy upper eyelid (Ptosis)
- Eyelids turning inwards (Entropion)
- Eyelids turning outwards (Ectropion)
- Eyelid lumps & swelling (Chalazion)
- Thyroid eye disease (Grave’s disease)
Rejuvenating
Where there is significant pathology or trauma leading to loss or requiring surgical removal of the eye and the eyelids, oculoplastic surgery can help restore function, appearance and minimize disfigurement.
- Ageing eyelids (Blepharoplasty)
- Dermal Fillers
- Botulinum toxin injections (Botox)
Reconstructive
Where there is significant pathology or trauma leading to loss or requiring surgical removal of the eye and the eyelids, oculoplastic surgery can help restore function, appearance and minimize disfigurement.
- Eyelid cancer
- Loss of eye
Patient Information
Oculoplastic surgery is specialized plastic and reconstructive surgery, dealing with the eyelids, the tear (lacrimal) system and orbital regions of the face.
An oculoplastic surgeon is an ophthalmologist (medical doctor and eye surgeon) with additional in-depth training and knowledge of the eyelid area.
In recent years, many more people have become aware of the need for cosmetic eyelid surgery, or ‘Blepharoplasty’. This popular and relatively simple procedure recontours the upper face by removing obvious signs of sagging and ageing. An increasing number of patients consider Blepharoplasty before undertaking a full face-lift. Blepharoplasty is a less invasive procedure and has many positive and long-lasting results.
FAQ
Here are some of the main issues facing people who are considering eyelid surgery – Blepharoplasty – on their upper and lower eyelids
The area around the eyes are the first to show changes of ageing. A properly performed Blepharoplasty should rejuvenate your face and make it look more alert. This operation can also be performed for people with excessive skin on the upper eyelids blocking peripheral vision
Nothing lasts forever. However, by rejuvenating the part of the face most prone to ageing, it should take many years for the loose sagging skin to reform and the fat pockets to reaccumulate.
Every surgical procedure leads to scars. The incisions in Blepharoplasty are in the normal creases and folds of the upper and lower eyelids. With time the scars become very thin and hardly visible. If surgery is performed to treat baggy lower eyelids, the incision can sometimes be done from inside the eyelid with no external scarring.
About
Vickie Lee
Miss Vickie Lee is a Consultant Ophthalmic and Oculoplastic Surgeon at Imperial College and London North West University Healthcare NHS Trusts. She is also an Honorary Senior Lecturer at the Imperial College School of Medicine.
She specializes in treatment of all orbital, lacrimal and eyelid conditions (including cosmetic) and watering and dry eyes.
Miss Lee is a leading specialist in orbital trauma and thyroid eye disease. She is the British Oculoplastic Surgery Society’s National Lead for Thyroid Eye Disease(TED) and authored the national guidelines for TED and led the compilation of a national directory for thyroid eye services.
