Oculoplasty
Surgery and care for the eyelids, tear ducts and the structures around the eye.
*Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 8 pm | Consultations from 8:45 am
EHS, CGHS and cashless insurance accepted for medically needed procedures. Cosmetic procedures are generally not covered.
Mostly day care, under local or general anaesthesia.
Understanding Oculoplasty
Healthy Eye
Drooping Eyelid
(Ptosis, blocked vision)
What does oculoplasty treat?
Oculoplasty treats the eyelids, the tear drainage system, the bony socket around the eye (the orbit) and nearby tissue. It combines eye care with reconstructive surgery.
Most treatment is functional: protecting the eye, restoring vision or tear drainage, or removing growths. Some treatment is cosmetic.
- Droopy eyelids
- Constant watering and discharge
- A lump or swelling in or around the eyes
- Inward or outward turning of the eyelid
- Bulging and bigger-appearing eyes
- Excess skin hanging over the eye and blocking vision
Causes: ageing, with weaker muscles and loose skin; present from birth (drooping eyelid, blocked tear duct); injury; infection; thyroid disease; growths and tumours; chronic eyelid inflammation.
Risk factors: age; thyroid disease, and smoking, which worsens thyroid eye disease; diabetes; family history of a drooping eyelid; eye injury; earlier eyelid or eye surgery; long sun exposure, which raises the risk of eyelid skin cancers.
- Eyelid: Droopy eyelid (ptosis); eyelids turning in (entropion) or out (ectropion); styes, chalazion, lumps and tumours; eyelid injuries.
- Tear duct: Blocked tear duct; tear sac infection.
- Orbit: Thyroid eye disease; fractures after injury; infection and tumours.
- Socket: Reconstruction and artificial eye.
- Cosmetic: Excess eyelid skin (blepharoplasty), hollowness, fine lines, Botox and fillers.
- Wear protective eyewear to prevent injury
- Keep the eyelids clean and use warm compresses. Do not squeeze styes.
- Keep thyroid disease under control and stop smoking
- Wear sunglasses and a hat in strong sun
- Get any eyelid lump that grows, bleeds or causes lash loss checked
- If a baby’s eye keeps watering, show a doctor instead of waiting
See a doctor promptly for swelling with fever, pain and redness around the eye, sudden bulging of the eye, vision loss, or any injury to the eyelid or eye.
1. Diagnosis
An eyelid, tear duct or orbit problem is confirmed with detailed eye examination. Tests may include:
Eyelid and Eye Examination
Checks eyelid position, muscle function and the eye
Tear Drainage Test
Checks whether the tear duct is open
Imaging
CT or MRI for orbit problems
Biopsy
Tests a suspicious lump
2. Treatment
Treatment depends on the cause. Many conditions are treated first with medicine or a simple procedure. Surgery corrects position, drainage or growths.
When is treatment needed?
When the problem affects vision, protection of the eye, tear drainage or health, or when a growth needs removal. Your doctor will guide the timing.
Without surgery:
Warm compresses, eyelid hygiene and medicines for infections and inflammation. Thyroid eye disease is managed with medicine in its active stage.
Surgical Options:
Eyelid lump removal and reconstruction: Removes growths while restoring natural eyelid shape and function.
Ptosis correction: Lifts a drooping eyelid.
Orbital surgery: Fracture repair, decompression for thyroid eye disease, tumour removal.
Entropion and ectropion repair: Turns the eyelid back into position.
Socket reconstruction and artificial eye: Restores eye socket structure to naturally support a prosthetic eye.
DCR (dacryocystorhinostomy): Creates a new drainage path for a blocked tear duct.
Got a diagnosis? Ensure you’re on the right track with a second opinion:
3. Recovery and Post-Op Care
- Use cold compresses for the first 48 hours
- Sleep with your head raised
- Use drops or ointment as prescribed
- Do not rub the area
- After DCR, do not blow your nose forcefully for 1 to 2 weeks. A little blood-tinged discharge from the nose is expected.
- Swelling and bruising settle over 1 to 2 weeks
- Avoid heavy exercise and bending for about 2 weeks
- No eye makeup until healed
- Scars fade over weeks to months
- Stitches are usually removed after about a week.
Call us or visit immediately for bleeding that does not stop, increasing pain, fever, pus, or a drop in vision.
Got questions about your recovery?
Planning Your Care
Know what is covered, what it costs and what to bring.
Insurance & Schemes
- EHS
- CGHS
- Cashless insurance (Check detailed list)
- Institutional empanelments (Check detailed list)
- Reconstructive and functional procedures are accepted. Cosmetic procedures are generally not covered
- Aarogyasri: covers selected retina procedures
What will it cost?
Consultation fee:
Surgery: Depends on the procedure and the anaesthesia
Before your visit
Bring:
- Thyroid reports and scans
- List of any/all your medicines, and tell us if you take blood thinners
- A few older photos of your face, if the concern is a change in appearance
- Photo ID
- Insurance or scheme card
Unsure where to start? We’re here to help!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is oculoplasty only cosmetic?
No. Most of it is functional or reconstructive, such as protecting the eye, restoring drainage or removing growths. Some procedures are cosmetic.
My baby's eye waters all the time. Is that normal?
It is common and often due to a blocked tear duct. Many open on their own in the first year. See a doctor if it persists or if there is discharge or swelling.
Does a drooping eyelid need surgery?
It does when the eyelid blocks vision or affects the eye. Your doctor first finds the cause.
Is DCR surgery safe?
It is a well-established surgery for a blocked tear duct. Your doctor explains the approach and recovery.
Will I have visible scars?
Incisions are placed in natural eyelid creases where possible. Some procedures, such as DCR, can be done without an outside scar.
Is a lump on my eyelid dangerous?
Most are harmless, such as a stye or chalazion. A lump that keeps growing, bleeds or causes lash loss needs to be checked.
Can thyroid eye disease be treated?
Yes. Treatment depends on the stage and can include medicine, and surgery later if needed.
Eyelid, tear duct or
eye socket concern?
Book an oculoplasty consultation at Habsiguda or Chanda Nagar.