Question:
I’ve heard people sometimes have trouble closing their eyes after eyelid surgery. Is this common? If it happens does it clear up and in the meantime how do you deal with it?
Answer:
One of the potential complications of upper eyelid surgery is that the surgeon removes too much skin from the upper lids. If this should occur, over time, the upper eyelid skin will relax enough that the eyes should close appropriately. In severe cases, a skin graft from the opposite upper eyelid or from the lower eyelid may be necessary to repair the eyelids. In all upper eyelid surgery, there is a short period of time where the upper eyelid may not close entirely from simple swelling of the upper eyelid. The swelling is transient and resolves in a few days. I instruct my patients to use lacrilube or natural tears to the eyes if the eyes are not 100% closed after surgery.
Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld