Blepharoplasty

[Kearton62]

Hi, has anyone had a Blepharoplasty after eye surgery ( stents) or knows whther this is possible due to possible infection site near eye?

thanks

[PA999]

I recently had an upper lid blepharoplasty to repair ptosis that was caused by my trabeculectomy 2 years ago. All the work was done on the outside of the lid along a natural crease. I was given antibiotic ointment to use for a week and the stitches were removed after a fortnight. I had no complications nor any issues at all with infection because literally nothing came into contact with the eye. While I don’t have stents, I imagine there would be little difference in the approach.

I had a pretty good cosmetic result with no noticeable scarring due to where the incision was. Although full symmetry wasn’t possible, I feel I look far less weird. The surgery does appear to have improved my vision insofar as the physical block from my drooping eyelid is now reduced - obviously the visual field defects are unchanged.

The main benefit to me has been the ability to move my eyelid rather more effortlessly, no longer struggling to keep it open as I did beforehand. Prior to surgery I would wake up every morning with the lid firmly stuck to my eyeball (despite using Hylonight ointment) and I had to push it open with my fingers. Now, a few blinks usually frees it up (although I still use the Hylonight).

There can be options to do the surgery from the inside of the eyelid, involving a different muscle, which might increase the risk of infection. However, the amount of correction is not always sufficient this way so I suppose fewer people are candidates for this. A week prior to my surgery I had to go into clinic and they put drops in to emulate the level of lift that might be achieved going in from the inside of the lid. I was given to understand that this would be the most likely scenario, but on the day the consultant decided to proceed with it externally.