Is There a Risk of Dry Eye after Eyelid Surgery? By Vishnu Rumalla on December 29, 2016

At Tarrant Plastic Surgery, eyelid surgery, clinically known as blepharoplasty, is one of our most popular plastic surgery procedures with good reason. Whether performed for cosmetic purposes, to restore clear vision, or a combination of the two, eyelid surgery has the potential to transform a person’s life. As a cosmetic treatment, eyelid surgery can take years off a patient’s facial appearance while leaving virtually no trace of his or her having undergone a surgical procedure. As a treatment to restore clear vision to patients with severe drooping of the upper eyelids, it can give them back the ability to drive, read, use a computer, and perform other essential tasks with confidence and ease once again.

Although eyelid surgery is one of the safest and least invasive procedures in all of plastic surgery, it does have its risks, as does any form of surgery. One of these risks is post-surgical dry eye. Dr. Vishnu Rumalla discusses the connection between eyelid surgery and dry eye during consultations at his Fort Worth, TX plastic surgery practice so that patients understand both the benefits and the risks associated with the procedure. He wants them to be able to make confident, informed decisions regarding whether to proceed with blepharoplasty.

Is eyelid surgery right for you? To find out, schedule your initial consultation with Dr. Rumalla today.

What Is the Connection between Eyelid Surgery and Dry Eye?

There is a risk of dry eye with every eye surgery, whatever its purpose. This is because a surgical error could damage the lacrimal glands or the mechanisms responsible for tear production in the eyes. When eyelid surgery is performed by a skilled and experienced surgeon such as Dr. Rumalla, however, the risk of such an error is extremely low.

When performed properly, eyelid surgery does not cause dry eye in and of itself. Some patients experience temporary dryness of the eyes when they are recovering from eyelid surgery due to swelling of the treatment areas; this swelling can interfere with proper function of the lacrimal glands. However, proper tear production generally resumes within days as swelling subsides. In the meanwhile, these symptoms can be managed with artificial tears.

Patients who already suffer from dry eye syndrome or who have already undergone an eye surgery such as LASIK that puts them at high risk for dry eye syndrome may not be suitable candidates for eyelid surgery. Dr. Rumalla evaluates these patients on a case-by-case basis. While eyelid surgery does not cause dry eye, it could exacerbate the condition in patients who already have it or are at high risk of developing it.

It is very important that patients entrust their eyelid surgery to a plastic surgeon with extensive experience and a history of success in performing the procedure, such as Dr. Rumalla. An inexperienced or unskilled surgeon could remove too much skin from the lids or accidentally cut the oblicularis oculi muscle in the upper eyelid, mistakes which could result in permanent dry eye.