Drooping eyelids is a common part of the natural aging process. But did you know that it is also a symptom of an underlying medical condition that you may have? In more serious cases, it may be the cause of migraines, strokes, and more. There are 3 main types of eyelid operations that an Ophthalmologist performs – blepharoplasty, entropion, and basal cell carcinoma.
Blepharoplasty
Blepharoplasty is a straight forward surgery to correct a common problem where there is excess eyelid skin. This causes limited vision (particularly affecting your upper and outer field of vision), discomfort, and it also affects your physical appearance. For this condition, eye drops and mild anaesthesia is used to help you feel comfortable, and then your Ophthalmologist will make an incision to remove excess fat, tissue, and muscle which causes your eyelids to droop.
Entropion
This medical condition commonly affecting those over 60 years old is where one or both eyelids fold inwards which causes your cornea to be irritated by your eyelashes. If it is not treated, it can lead to a scarred eyelid and potential corneal damage. Patients undergo local anaesthetic so that your Ophthalmologist can remove the excess skin, tendons, or muscles; and thereafter realigning the eyelid position to its appropriate position.
Basal Cell Carcinoma
A common type of eyelid cancer is basal cell carcinoma most commonly found on the lower eyelid. If it is left untreated, tumours may grow around the eye, brain, and sinuses. Once a diagnosis has been confirmed as to the stage of this cancer, you will undergo surgery to remove the tumour. If caught early, this can be cured. However, some people choose to ignore these tumours which will then invade the eye and may be difficult to remove – or even make removal impossible.
At Murdoch Ophthalmology, our skilled Ophthalmologists will accurately diagnose your medical condition’s stage in order to provide a safe treatment to help you regain your vision and live a more comfortable lifestyle. Contact us today to find out how we can help you.