Potential Complications

• Dry eye syndrome - patients with "dry eyes" often complain of symptoms such feeling of dryness, gritty or foreign body sensation, burning sensation and stinging, soreness, tired eyes, paradoxically, watering eyes. Visit the Dry Eye page for more details. Treat with corneal lubrication and observation initially.
• Epiphora (tearing) - patients with epiphora complain of watery eyes; it is when there is an imabance between production and drainage of tears. Visit the Lacrimal page for more details. Common for the first few days due to swelling.
• Retrobulbar hematoma (bleeding behind the eye) - bleeding BEHIND (RETRO) can be very serious and may lead to loss of vision; it may occur infrequently following surgery or trauma. Prompt ophthalmic attention is critical. Visit the Trauma page for more details. Look for signs of firm, proptotic eye. Symptoms includes loss of vision.
• Ptosis (drooping of the eyelid) - also known as Blepharoptosis. It refers to an eyelid which is droopy. This may cause a loss of vision, especially while reading, headaches, and eyebrow strain. Please click on the Ptosis page for more details. May be due to damage to levator aponeurosis. Must repair primarily.

• Ectropion (the eyelid turns out) - ectropion is when the eyelid turns out. Visit the Lid Malposition page for more details. Often due to excessive removal of eyelid skin.

• Lagophthalmos(eye may not close completely) - patients with lagophthalmos have an inability to close eyelids. This may occur, for instance, in patients with Thyroid eye disease. Visit the Lagophthalmos page for more details. May be normal in early postoperative period.

Webbing/ unsatisfactory incisions

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