Eyelid Surgery
Ptosis, Entropion, Ectropion, Tumours..

Surrey Eye Surgeons are experienced in different types of Eyelid Surgery (listed below). If you would like to talk to us about Eyelid Surgery or have any questions, call us for a consultation on 01483 550 939.

Ptosis Surgery

Ptosis refers to an eyelid which is lower than it should be. This is different to an upper eyelid 'bag', where the skin above the eyelid hangs down and can interfere with the vision. An eyelid bag needs to be removed with a blepharoplasty operation (see cosmetic eyelid treatments). A ptosis or droopy eyelid need to be corrected with a ptosis operation.

Entropion and Ectropion Surgery

An entropion describes a lower eyelid which rolls inwards. This often starts intermittently but often becomes permanent. When the lid rolls inwards, the eyelashes irritate and scratch the eye, making it very uncomfortable. Entropion surgery corrects the laxity in the eyelid which is the cause of the problem. The operation can be performed under local anaesthetic with the addition of a sedative if required.

An ectropion is the opposite of an entropion. With a lower lid ectropion, the lid rolls outwards. When this happens, the back surface of the eyelid, which is normally kept moist by tears, becomes dry, red and sore. The eyelid will trigger a lot of irritation and discharge as the back surface of the eyelid becomes inflamed. As with an entropion, the main cause of an ectropion is lower eyelid laxity and so the lid is tightened with surgery under local anaesthetic, with the addition of sedation, as required.

Eyelid Lumps and Bumps

There are many lumps which can develop on and around the eyelids. Some of these are infected cysts which need to be drained. Others are skin lumps or skin tags which can be trimmed off. Fortunately, eyelid skin heals quickly in most cases, and so the recovery from this type of surgery is quick for most people. If a skin lump is removed it is sensible to send it off for analysis to make sure it is a benign. Eyelid lumps can be removed with local anaesthetic alone or with a sedative if necessary.

Eyelid Tumours

The skin around the eyelids is exposed to a lot of sunlight throughout our lives. As a result of this, the eyelids are often the site of skin tumours, such as basal cell carcinomas (also known as rodent ulcers). Less commonly, other tumours are seen such as squamous cell carcinomas and malignant melanomas. These tumours pose a serious threat to the other structures around the eye and the eye itself. In some cases these tumours can spread to other parts of the body.

Treatment
If one of these tumours is suspected, the first step is to perform a quick and simple biopsy to confirm which type of lump is present. Once the result is known, further treatment is then planned to remove the lump completely (including any root which is hidden under the skin surface). The type of surgery required depends on the type, size and position of the lump. This varies a lot from person to person and as a result, your treatment is personalised for your needs.

If you would like to talk with us about our treatments or have any questions about our procedures, please call us on 01483 576 576 or email info@surreyeyesurgeons.com. We are based in Guildford, Surrey and have a team of highly qualified eye surgeons.