WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: What do I need to know about eyelid surgery? Eyelid surgery may be done to correct entropion or ectropion conditions. Entropion is a condition that causes your eyelid to turn inward. Ectropion is a condition that causes your eyelid to turn outward. Both conditions most often affect the lower eyelid. How do I prepare for eyelid surgery? Your healthcare provider will talk to you about how to prepare for surgery. He may tell you not to eat or drink anything after midnight on the day of your surgery. He will tell you what medicines to take or not take on the day of your surgery. What will happen during eyelid surgery? You will be given local anesthesia to numb the surgery area. With local anesthesia, you may still feel pressure or pushing during surgery, but you should not feel any pain. You may instead be given general anesthesia to keep you asleep during surgery. For entropion repair, your surgeon will make an incision on the outside corner of your eyelid or just below your eyelid. For ectropion repair, your surgeon will make an incision on the skin at the outside corner of your eyelid. He may instead make an incision in another area of your eyelid. He may remove excess tissue from your eyelid. This will help to tighten the eyelid so that it moves back to the normal position. He will close the incision with stitches. What will happen after eyelid surgery? You may need to wear an eye patch overnight to protect your eye. You will need to use antibiotic ointment for about a week. You may have bruising and swelling for up to 2 weeks. What are the risks of eyelid surgery? You may bleed more than expected or get an infection. Your ectropion or entropion condition may occur again and you may need another surgery. |