Upper Eyelid Surgery

The aim of this is to drop the upper lid lower so that it covers more of the cornea and allows better closure of the eye. This is done by weakening the muscle that opens the eye (levator muscle recession) or by inserting a weight into the upper eyelid to help the eyelid close with gravity. The former is usually done through the back of the eyelid under local anaesthetic, and repeated if a further drop in the upper eyelid height is required. A gold weight or platinum chain is usually placed through an incision in the front of the eyelid.

The risks of levator recession are that it can be difficult to control the contour and position of the upper lid. If the lid remains high, a repeat procedure is required, and if the eyelid is too low, then a reversal operation may be required. A weight may be too heavy and be seen as a bulky mass through the skin of the upper eyelid. Sometimes a large weight can extrude through the skin. A heavy weight can also make the vision blurry by causing astigmatism.

Last reviewed: 26-07-2022    ||    Next review due: 26-07-2025