Thyroid eye disease is an autoimmune disease that targets the thyroid gland and the muscles and fat surrounding the eye. This medical condition causes acute inflammation in and around the eye, which may be mild, moderate, or severe. The disease has a much more aggressive course in smokers. A particular characteristic of thyroid eye disease that distinguishes it from other autoimmune diseases is that the inflammation tends to die out on its own in 1 to 2 years, even without treatment. However, the inflammatory phase of thyroid eye disease may cause permanent scarring of eyelid tissues, resulting in sequelae such as eyelid retraction.
Eyelid retraction, especially in the upper eyelids, is, in fact, the main sequelae of thyroid eye disease. It gives patients a surprised look, which alters their whole facial appearance and may affect them psychologically. Not only that, but the eyelid retraction affects the blinking mechanism, causing significant dry eye symptoms for the patient.
Upper eyelid retraction is treated surgically after the inflammatory phase of thyroid eye disease has subsided. The treatment consists of lowering the eyelid height with an operation called blepharotomy. Blepharotomy means “opening the eyelid” and consists of weakening the muscle that raises the eyelid by cutting its attachments from the eyelid plate called the tarsus. The procedure is done in an operating room under local anesthesia with mild sedation. This delicate procedure should be performed by eyelid surgeons with ample experience in treating eyelid retraction. The following video illustrates the main steps of the operation and the results of the procedure.
If you suffer from eyelid retraction as sequelae of thyroid eye disease, we can help you recover a healthy eyelid appearance and improve your dry eye symptoms. Please get in touch with us via email or contact us at +506 7032-5570.
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