Thyroid Eye Disease & Treatment
I. Introduction One of the most common problems people have with thyroid gland disease is varying degrees of eye difficulty. Eye problems are usually caused by abnormal swelling of the soft tissue surrounding the eyes and by enlargement of the muscles that move the eyes and open the eyelids. The reason for the swelling is an autoimmune reaction. The term “autoimmune” means that the immune system in your body attacks a part of your body, in this case the soft tissues of the eye. It…
Eyelid Skin Cancer & Treatment
Skin cancer commonly involves the eyelid or adjacent face. Eyelid skin cancers most commonly involve the lower lid but can occur anywhere around the eyelid. Common areas include eyelid margins, corners of the eye, eyebrow skin, or adjacent areas of the face. The eyelid margin is especially tricky because the tumor can hide within the lashes for many years. Eyelid cancers are often called the “Great Masquerader” because they can appear in many different forms or “disguises.” They can appear as painless elevations or nodules…
Ptosis Surgery “Droopy Eyelid” Repair
Another common procedure is Ptosis Repair or “eyelid lift.” Ptosis (see figure 4) is a term to describe the upper eyelid margin drooping over the pupil blocking vision. Symptoms of ptosis include a decreased ability to keep your eyelid open, eye strain, and eyebrow fatigue from the increased effort needed to raise your eyelids. Many people complain of fatigue, especially when reading or using a computer. Acquired Ptosis is most commonly due to stretching of the levator muscle in the eyelid with age. The levator…
Eyelid Surgery
Eyelid surgery can refer to many kinds of surgery involving the eyelid. It can be a term that describes functional blepharoplasty such as lids so baggy they weigh the upper eyelid down or hang over the lid margin and block vision. This situation is usually covered by insurance. Blepharoplasty done in the context without insurance is also referred to as cosmetic eyelid surgery. The surgery is done without insurance because either the eyelid skin does not weigh the lid down to block the vision or…
Enucleation & Evisceration
ENUCLEATION Enucleation and evisceration are terms that refer to surgery to remove the eye from the orbit. When the entire eye (with the exception of the muscles) is removed it is termed enucleation. The eye is replaced by a spherical implant. This implant is sometimes wrapped in donor sclera. The external eye muscles are left behind and sometimes are attached to the implant affording it mobility. The implant is usually made up of hydroxyapatite, silicone, acrylic, medpor or dermis fat graft. The type of…