Eyelid Surgery Complications

Potential Problems and the Telltale Signs

Blindness

Blindness is caused by bleeding in the fat compartments after the surgery is over. Blindness occurs in fewer than 1 in 10, 000 people who undergo blepharoplasty. If you are not having fat removed, then this is not a concern.

Blurred vision

Blurred vision can be caused by irritation, swelling, or damage to any of the muscles that surround the eyeball and coordinate its movement. It is important to remember though that often times these symptoms are temporary. Fortunately, this is a rare problem.

Dry eye syndrome

A variety of circumstances could cause dry eye syndrome, but is most often related to lack of lower eyelid support following eyelid surgery, leading to a lower eyelid which is lower than optimal. This can often be circumvented by a special suture that supports the lower eyelid through the healing process, also known as a canthopexy.

Inability to close your eyes

At times, the removal of too much upper eyelid skin can lead to the inability to close your eyes. In severe cases, skin grafting may be necessary to correct this problem.

Corneal abrasion

A corneal abrasion can occur during ANY operation, whether it be on the eyes or any part of the body, because the eyes may sometimes open during surgery, rendering them susceptible to being scratched by a member of the operating team. Treatment involves taping the eye shut for 2-3 days while it heals.

Hollow (sunken) eyes:

If you are uncertain as to what hollow or sunken eyes look like, look at Mary Tyler Moore. She appears to have had too much fat removed from her eyelids, leaving her with a sunken hollow appearance. This can usually be prevented through conservative removal of fat at the time of surgery.

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