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Carl J. Hanig, MD |
Procedures: Oculoplastics
Oculoplastic surgery includes a wide variety of surgical procedures involving the eye socket, eyelids, tear ducts, and other areas around the eye. It also provides reconstruction of the eye and associated features.
• Blepharoplasty (Functional/Cosmetic): This is the removal of excess skin and fat from the upper or lower eyelids. Functionally, excessive eyelid tissue can block parts of your visual field. Cosmetically, excessive wrinkled skin around the eyes can cause a sagging tired look. All incision lines are made along natural skin creases to make them invisible.
• Ectropion Repair: This is the sagging or outward curling of the lower eyelid and eyelashes away from the eye. The eyelid and lashes are not able to protect and clean the eye causing tearing, crusting, and irritation. A minor surgery to tighten the skin and press the eyelid and lashes inward can be performed.
• Entropion Repair: This is the curling inward of the lower eyelid and eyelashes towards the eye. The skin and lashes are rubbing against the cornea causing tearing, crusting, and irritation. A minor surgery to tighten the skin and curl the eyelid and lashes outward can be performed.
• Blepharospasm (Botox Treatment): This is a neurological movement disorder involving involuntary and sustained muscle contractions of the muscles around the eyes. To relieve our patients of these spasms, we use Botulinum toxin (Botox) to paralyze the muscles around the eyes that contract. Usually, relief is instant and requires a renewal shot every 3 months.
• Evisceration Surgery: This is the removal of all internal eye contents except the white of the eye and all extraocular muscles attached. This procedure is used to reduce pain or preserve the cosmetic look of a blind eye.
• Enucleation Surgery: This is the removal of the eyeball white leaving the adjacent structures of the eye socket and eyelids. Intraocular tumor removal requires this procedure.
• Dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR): When tears cannot be drained from the tear ducts normally, this surgery creates a passage between the tear sac and the nasal cavity to permit the drainage of tears.
• Skin Cancer of the Eyelid Region: Skin cancer can occur on any area of skin on the body. On the eyelid, a simple excision is performed. The lesion is cut away with a minor amount of healthy skin to prevent any cancer cells from extending farther. If a majority of the eyelid needs to be removed, reconstructive surgery options are available.