Extreme watering 6 months post bleph
I am 6 months post lower bleph, my eye bags were removed internally, I had no stitches. There is some, but not significant improvement, my surgeon recommends a second procedure, either a peel to remove the remaining lines, or a more invasive procedure. My problem is that every day since my surgery I wake up with stinging eyes and they stream for the first 20 minutes. I have to wait until this is finished to apply my makeup. My surgeon says this is not related to the operation but I've never had the problem before. Also had 2 infections in the right eye. I'm not ecstatic about my results and getting a little tired of the watering, does anyone have any advice for me? I used all my savings for this, I'm so upset.
You may be experiencing a condition known as “dry eye syndrome". This may happen following blepharoplasty surgery. Would recommend frequent use of artificial tears, when outside wear glasses especially in a windy environment. You may also place plastic wraps around your eyes over night see your surgeon and perhaps an ophthalmologist. Good luck and usually this condition is temporary.
While it is very difficult to make any firm recommendations without examining you first hand I can confidently advise you not to have any additional eyelid surgery until your symptoms of intermittent excessive tearing either resolve and/or the cause is firmly identified. It sounds as if you are experiencing "epiphora" otherwise known as compensatory tearing created by over exposure of the eye surface which actually drys the eye. You should get a second opinion from a local ophthalmologist so that the actual health of your eye(s) can be evaluated. In the meantime applying wetting drops throughout the day, using protective eyewear, applying heavy eye lubricants such as Systane at night with an eye mask may alleviate your symptoms.
Hello,
Thanks for your question. I'm sorry for what you are going through. While it would help to see the results of your surgery, post-blepharoplasty excess eye watering is known as epiphora. It can occur for several reasons, but after surgery the most common reason is that the lower lid is a bit retracted and the surface of the eye is more exposed to the drying effects of the air. Surface moisture sensors in the eye detect the drying and force the lacrimal gland to produce tears to correct the problem. If you live in a dry, windy place, the symptoms can be quite bad. It is important to keep your eye lubricated at night with a heavy gel and use preservative free eyedrops during the day to keep your eyes hydrated. This helps keep the lacrimal gland from getting overworked. If the conservative care with gels and drops doesn't work, you may need a lid support procedure to correct this issue. I would recommend a consultation with an ophthalmologist to get your eyes checked, as well, from a general functional standpoint. Eyes get dry with age, and surgery can often exacerbate the problem, even if there weren't any technical complications with the procedure. I would hold off on any further elective procedures, like chemical peels for now until you correct the epiphora.
Good luck,
Dr. Shah