OCULOPLASTIC SURGERY

What is Oculoplastics?

Oculoplastic surgeons deal with reconstruction and repair of the eyelids, eye sockets, and tear duct systems.

Oculoplastics is commonly used as a term for plastic surgery or cosmetic eye surgery for the eyelid areas, either for cosmetic or necessary functional purposes. It also deals with the reconstruction of the eye and associated structures, so is also called Reconstructive Eye Surgery.

What Does Oculoplastics Treat?

The field of oculoplastic surgery is expanding and currently involves many different areas of ophthalmology including:

Excision of Skin Malignancies or growths and their repair.
Complex Reconstruction may be required after skin malignancies are removed to ensure that they do not return
Eyelid Malpositions including;

Ptosis - Drooping of the upper eyelid
Ectropion - Drooping of the lower eyelid where the sagging eyelid turns out exposing the eyeball
Entropion - In-turning of the lower or upper eyelid with irritation from eyelashes and skin
Tear Duct Obstructions - This can be performed from an internal or external perspective

Eye Socket Surgery - once the eye is removed, reconstruction may be undertaken to allow the artificial eye (prosthesis) to appear lifelike. Without complex socket surgery, a lifeless appearance may occur and movement of the false eye will be minimal.
Orbital Surgery - may be required for patients with problems in the eye socket such as thyroid eye disease. This is where excessive swelling of the tissues behind the eye occurs and the eye is pushed forward
Blepharoplasty - Correction of excess skin on the eyelids that may or may not interfere with vision.

Why Consider Oculoplastic Surgery?

Many of the most common Oculoplastic procedures focus on the eyes and their surrounding area, whether for corrective purposes or to combat the signs of ageing. Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) is now listed as one of the most popular cosmetic procedures.

Our oculoplastic surgeons here at Retina Associates are fully qualified ophthalmologists, with advanced training and study, in Australia and overseas in the field of ophthalmic plastic surgery.