Oculoplastics, or oculoplastic surgery, includes a wide variety of surgical procedures that deal with the orbit (eye socket), eyelids, tear ducts, and the face. It also deals with the reconstruction of the eye and associated structures.

Training

An oculoplastic surgeon is a specialized

ophthalmologist Ophthalmology ( ) is a surgical subspecialty within medicine that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders. An ophthalmologist is a physician who undergoes subspecialty training in medical and surgical eye care. Following a medic ...

who has completed one or two years of additional fellowship training following ophthalmology residency. Members of the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons
ASOPRS
are the most highly qualified oculoplastic surgeons in North America. To qualify, a member must have passed both the American Board of Ophthalmology certification exams, as well as written and oral board examinations through ASOPRS. A candidate must also have made a significant contribution to the field of oculoplastics, which may take the form of a peer-reviewed publication. Such other surgeons as

plastic surgeons Plastic surgery is a surgical specialty involving the restoration, reconstruction or alteration of the human body. It can be divided into two main categories: reconstructive surgery and cosmetic surgery. Reconstructive surgery includes craniofa ...

, otolaryngologists, and oral and maxillofacial surgeons may be trained in oculoplastic procedures as well. The total additional training time for an ASOPRS Oculoplastic surgeon is 2 years after a 4-year Ophthalmology residency. The most highly qualified oculoplastic surgeons in the United Kingdom are members of the British Oculoplastic Surgery Society (https://www.bopss.co.uk/). In the UK oculoplastic surgeons will have generally undertaken 8–9 years of training, including 1–2 years of fellowship in addition to 7 years of registrar work (which typically includes 12–18 months of oculoplastic surgery training).

Oculoplastic procedures

Oculoplastic surgeons perform procedures such as the repair of droopy eyelids (

blepharoplasty Blepharoplasty (Greek: ''blepharon'', "eyelid" + ''plassein'' "to form") is the plastic surgery operation for correcting defects, deformities, and disfigurations of the eyelids; and for aesthetically modifying the eye region of the face. With t ...

), repair of tear duct obstructions, orbital fracture repairs, removal of tumors in and around the eyes, eyelid and facial reconstruction.

Eyelid surgery

Entropion Entropion is a medical condition in which the eyelid (usually the lower lid) folds inward. It is very uncomfortable, as the eyelashes continuously rub against the cornea causing irritation. Entropion is usually caused by genetic factors. This is ...

ectropion Ectropion is a medical condition in which the lower eyelid turns outwards. It is one of the notable aspects of newborns exhibiting congenital Harlequin-type ichthyosis, but ectropion can occur due to any weakening of tissue of the lower eyelid. ...

, ptosis, and eyelid tumors are commonly treated by various forms of eyelid surgery. *

Blepharoplasty Blepharoplasty (Greek: ''blepharon'', "eyelid" + ''plassein'' "to form") is the plastic surgery operation for correcting defects, deformities, and disfigurations of the eyelids; and for aesthetically modifying the eye region of the face. With t ...

(eyelift) is

plastic surgery Plastic surgery is a surgical specialty involving the restoration, reconstruction or alteration of the human body. It can be divided into two main categories: reconstructive surgery and cosmetic surgery. Reconstructive surgery includes craniofa ...

of the

eyelid An eyelid is a thin fold of skin that covers and protects an eye. The levator palpebrae superioris muscle retracts the eyelid, exposing the cornea to the outside, giving vision. This can be either voluntarily or involuntarily. The human eyeli ...

s to remove excessive skin or subcutaneous fat. ** Asian blepharoplasty * Ptosis repair for droopy eyelid. *

Ectropion Ectropion is a medical condition in which the lower eyelid turns outwards. It is one of the notable aspects of newborns exhibiting congenital Harlequin-type ichthyosis, but ectropion can occur due to any weakening of tissue of the lower eyelid. ...

repair *

repair * Canthal resection * A canthectomy is the surgical removal of tissue at the junction of the upper and lower eyelids.Cline D; Hofstetter HW; Griffin JR. ''Dictionary of Visual Science''. 4th ed. Butterworth-Heinemann, Boston 1997. * Cantholysis is the surgical division of the canthus. * Canthopexy is the surgical fixation of the canthus. * A

canthoplasty The canthus (pl. canthi, palpebral commissures) is either corner of the eye where the upper and lower eyelids meet. More specifically, the inner and outer canthi are, respectively, the medial and lateral ends/angles of the palpebral fissure. The ...

is plastic surgery at the canthus. * A canthorrhaphy is suturing of the outer canthus to shorten the

palpebral fissure The palpebral fissure is the elliptic space between the medial and lateral canthi of the two open eyelids. In simple terms, it is the opening between the eyelids. In adult humans, this measures about 10 mm vertically and 30 mm horizontally. Va ...

. * A canthotomy is the surgical division of the canthus, usually the outer canthus. ** A lateral canthotomy is the surgical division of the outer canthus. * Epicanthoplasty * Tarsorrhaphy is a procedure in which the

s are partially sewn together to narrow the opening (i.e.

). * Removal of eyelid tumors (such as

basal cell carcinoma Basal-cell carcinoma (BCC), also known as basal-cell cancer, is the most common type of skin cancer. It often appears as a painless raised area of skin, which may be shiny with small blood vessels running over it. It may also present as a raise ...

squamous cell carcinoma Squamous-cell carcinomas (SCCs), also known as epidermoid carcinomas, comprise a number of different types of cancer that begin in squamous cells. These cells form on the surface of the skin, on the lining of hollow organs in the body, and on the ...

) * A Hughes procedure

Surgery involving the lacrimal apparatus

** External or Endoscopic Dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) for nasolacrimal duct obstruction *
Canalicular trauma
(canalicular laceration) repair ** Canaliculodacryocystostomy is a surgical correction for a congenitally blocked tear duct in which the closed segment is excised and the open end is joined to the

lacrimal sac The lacrimal sac or lachrymal sac is the upper dilated end of the nasolacrimal duct, and is lodged in a deep groove formed by the lacrimal bone and frontal process of the maxilla. It connects the lacrimal canaliculi, which drain tears from the e ...

. ** Canaliculotomy involves slitting of the

lacrimal punctum The lacrimal punctum (plural ''puncta'') or lacrimal point, is a minute opening on the summits of the lacrimal papillae, seen on the margins of the eyelids at the lateral extremity of the lacrimal lake. There are two lacrimal puncta in the medial ...

and canaliculus for the relief of epiphora ** A dacryoadenectomy is the surgical removal of a lacrimal gland. ** A dacryocystectomy is the surgical removal of a part of the lacrimal sac. ** A

dacryocystorhinostomy Dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) is a surgical procedure to restore the flow of tears into the nose from the lacrimal sac when the nasolacrimal duct does not function. Process Traditional A small incision is made on the side of the nose and some bone ...

(DCR) or dacryocystorhinotomy is a procedure to restore the flow of tears into the nose from the lacrimal sac when the nasolacrimal duct does not function. ** A dacryocystostomy is an incision into the lacrimal sac, usually to promote drainage. ** A dacryocystotomy is an incision into the lacrimal sac.

Eye removal

** An enucleation is the removal of the eye leaving the eye muscles and remaining orbital contents intact. ** An evisceration is the removal of the eye's contents, leaving the scleral shell intact. Usually performed to reduce pain in a blind eye.Cassin, B. and Solomon, S. ''Dictionary of Eye Terminology''. Gainesville, Florida: Triad Publishing Company, 1990. ** An exenteration is the removal of the entire orbital contents, including the eye, extraocular muscles, fat, and connective tissues; usually for malignant orbital tumors.

Orbital reconstruction

Ocular prosthetic An ocular prosthesis, artificial eye or glass eye is a type of craniofacial prosthesis that replaces an absent natural eye following an enucleation, evisceration, or orbital exenteration. The prosthesis fits over an orbital implant and under ...

s (artificial eyes) *

Orbital prosthesis An ocular prosthesis, artificial eye or glass eye is a type of craniofacial prosthesis that replaces an absent natural eye following an enucleation, evisceration, or orbital exenteration. The prosthesis fits over an orbital implant and under t ...

(artificial replacement of the eye and eyelids within the discipline of Anaplastology) for an extenterated orbit. * Orbital decompression for

Graves' disease Graves' disease (german: Morbus Basedow), also known as toxic diffuse goiter, is an autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid. It frequently results in and is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. It also often results in an enlarged thyro ...

* Orbital decompression for non-thyroid patients (aesthetic only) * Orbital Tumor Removal - removing tumors around the eye that may compromise vision

Other

Botox Botulinum toxin, or botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT), is a neurotoxic protein produced by the bacterium ''Clostridium botulinum'' and related species. It prevents the release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine from axon endings at the neuromus ...

injections * Injectable filler * Browplasty

References

{{Eye procedures