Woman Can’t Close Her Eyes After Botched Procedure
I saw this Today Show news segment the other day:
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I immediately recognized this story as being a good point of discussion for the readers of my blog. I’ve written before that the eyes are one of the most critical areas of our face, not only for vision purposes but also for communicating with others. Because we look at one another’s eyes so often during conversation, when our eyes and eyelids change, it can make a big difference in the way others perceive us.
The woman from this Today Show segment stated she had a problem with congenital eyelid drop. In these cases, the eyelid muscles don’t fully develop and children with this condition often use their foreheads to pull their eyelids upwards.
Depending on the severity of the condition, some people with congenital eyelid drop can have their eyelid muscles “tightened” to raise the lid. However, in more severe cases, specialists will create a pulley system which connects the eyelids to the eyebrow to increase the ability of the brows to control the eyelid height.
This procedure is important in children because if the lids are blocking vision, the child can develop a condition known as Amblyopia or “Lazy Eye.” A common symptom of Lazy Eye is that the brain develops less brain connections to an eye whose vision is blocked. If the condition is very severe and not corrected before age 8-10, this can result in permanent poor vision in that person’s eye for his or her lifetime.
In the case of the woman from the Today Show, it doesn’t seem like the condition was that severe, and it seemed her surgeon took tissue out of the eyelid in an effort to raise the lid. It makes me question if she truly had a “congenital ptosis.” In a case of true “congenital ptosis,” this would not have been the suggested procedure.
Importance of Choosing a Specialist in Eyelid Surgery
As the other doctor specialist in the news piece commented, removal of eyelid tissue can be a “danger sign” and recipe for disaster. Although probably well-meaning, the doctor in this case should have asked for help from a specialist in eyelid surgery before operating on this patient.
When undergoing eyelid surgery, it’s important for the surgeon to have in-depth knowledge of the eyelid anatomy, and it is especially helpful if they have a background in Ophthalmology itself. Many eyelid surgeries are performed by surgeons who do not have the best training in the eyes, which often leads to less than optimal results for the patients.
Thankfully, most people do not suffer from the problem that the woman in this Today Show segment had. However, it is good to keep in mind when seeking eyelid surgery to look for a surgeon who has extensive experience and knowledge regarding the area around the eye in which he or she is operating. Choosing a qualified eyelid surgeon is the best way to achieve the desired results in both the appearance and function of the eye.
For more information on eyelid surgery Florida or services available for cosmetic surgery Tampa, including blepharoplasty and Botox, Contact Our Office.
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