Have you had plastic surgery to help improve vision?

@hopeful33250 This is a good topic to have for a discussion! There is sometimes a stigma attached to the term "plastic surgery". But we tend to forget that is quite a broad term. When a surgeon does a procedure to minimize scarring, that is also considered plastic surgery! My good friend, a "proper Southern Lady" is no stranger to plastic surgery, having numerous experiences with facelifts, botox, tightening and customizing herself to her perception of attractiveness. But, I digress, and apologize. What does this have to do with this discussion? My friend is how I found the dr who did my upper blepherectomy in 2007 or 2008. He determined my sight was being impeded by excessive upper eyelid tissue, in both eyes. I underwent the surgery under local anesthetic, had no complications. Frozen bags of peas helped swelling and bruising. I used arnica montana as a supplement to reduce bruising, and took a week off from work. A decision never regretted.
Ginger

@hopeful33250
I had eyelid surgery, blepharoplasty, in the spring. My ophthalmologist had suggested it last year but I didn't think it was bad enough to bother with, but somehow, between last Christmas and April, my eyelids seemed to get much worse. I say that time frame because there are pictures of me at Christmas where my eyelids don't look that bad but by spring they were totally covering my eyelashes.

My ophthalmologist, who is one of the few local doctors whom I consider to be excellent, used to have a doctor come up from Lahey Clinic to do his patients but she was discontinuing this just when I needed it so I went to Lahey in MA to her. She is excellent. I am very happy with the results. My ophthalmologist thought for sure I would qualify. When I went to Lahey they tested my field of vision and I did qualify for it to be covered by Medicare.

The tiny stitches on my eyelid amazed me — such precision! I do still have pinkish eyelids but if I am going somewhere special I use a concealer on them. I have a friend in Seattle who had it done about three years ago and she still has pink eyelids so I think it takes a very long time for that to fade, if it ever does completely. I did use cold packs frequently, I no longer have the post-surgery instructions but I do remember it was quite often, each time for a limited number of minutes. I had some that had a gel in them that you put in a cloth sleeve. I actually had them from the days when I had migraines because the cool pack on my forehead gave a tiny bit of relief. She also gave me an ophthalmic antibiotic ointment -- erythromycin -- to use on them for the first two weeks. Erythromycin is safe around your eyes, you can even put it in your eye. I had to once when I had a corneal abrasion, back when I wore contact lenses.

I know that you are very conscious of researching your doctors, Teresa. There are some plastic surgeons who do eyelids but if you have it done I have heard and read that it is best done by an ophthalmologist who specializes in eyelid plastic surgery. I think it's called oculoplastic or something like that. I am very happy with the results, both from the vision standpoint, and from the appearance standpoint.
JK

Hi, @hopeful33250 - just curious as to the exact procedure you are looking at, if you don't mind sharing? Is this a blepharoplasty like @contentandwell mentioned?

@hopeful33250, It is wonderful of you to add this discussion for Connect members. I have had this surgery for both the upper eyelid and the extra tissue right below the eye. I am thrilled with the results. I was placed under anesthesia because of some other surgery I was having at the same time. I went home after a few hours and fell in love with frozen peas to go with the antibiotics.

My life partner had a more definitive need. He had limited vision. You can see the difference in these pictures. In the before picture on the left you can see how the upper eyelid sort of doubles down over the eye and creates a narrow opening. The tissue under the eye is pretty bulbous and baggy. After the surgery, his eyelids are definitive and look the same on top and bottom and on both the right and left sides.

What was immediately noticeable was his need for stronger sunglasses since more light was getting in. His best outcome was simply that he could see more. He too fell in love with frozen peas to prevent swelling. Three days after the surgery we attended an art show opening......there was no bruising. The stigma attached to plastic surgery is real. The other question he got was "Oh, have you had some work done on your eyes?" He even had to get a new Passport photo......and shhhhhh.....he looked at least five years younger. I am happy to shed some light for anyone who wants more details.

Be safe and protected tonight and free of suffering tomorrow. Chris

@artscaping his before picture is very similar to how my eyes looked before the surgery except my upper eyelids drooped even more I think - my eyes were slits.
You said you had no bruising, were your eyelids deep pink after surgery? Mine were pink but not the dark purplish you think of as bruising, perhaps there are fewer blood vessels in your eyelids.
JK

Very impressive, @artscaping !

@contentandwell, I do remember going a little heavy on the foundation before the art show so pink may be the best word. Thanks.....Chris

Hi, just happened to see this post. I am getting ready to schedule an upper blepharoplasty. However I am getting close to 80. So I don.
‘t know if that makes a difference in recovery results. Also, was the lower lid surgery also covered by medicare? I was hoping I could get it done like that but they seemed to say no.

My husband had the upper lid done so he can eventually get measurements for cataract surgery. Unfortunately he also agreed to have the lower part done. $8000 later...it really didn't affect his appearance much as he had hoped.

oh wow! i am waiting to schedule upper lids . so did you mean the lower lid surgrtydidnt help appearance or neither upper or lower helped appearance? THE UPPER IS covered by medicare but not the lower, for me.