Oculoplastics is the general term given to eye care involving the eyelid, eye socket and tear drainage system. It also covers surrounding related structures such as the forehead, cheeks and eyebrows.
Eye care professionals trained in oculoplastics are known as oculoplastic surgeons. They have a professional society called the British Oculoplastic Surgery Society, or BOPSS, which maintains a high standard of care. There is some really useful public information about oculoplastics and oculoplastic surgery on the BOPSS website.
Oculoplastic surgeons can treat a range of common eye conditions including those detailed below. They may also treat tumours and other lumps in the eye socket, or even remove damaged eyes.
This is known as eye dystonia or blepharospasm. There is a lot of information about eye dystonia on the Dystonia UK website.
In the video below, Jane talks about her experience of coping with eye dystonia:
Ptosis is the medical name for drooping eyelids or eyebrows. Ptosis can happen in one or both eyes. For more information on ptosis, visit The Moorfields Eye Hospital website.
Benign skin lesions are non-cancerous lumps or bumps such as moles, cysts, warts or skin tags. They can be removed from the skin using chemical and surgical procedures.
Skin lesions that are malignant are skin cancer. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is a cancer found on the skin and can be found on the eyelids too. Doctors treat it like any other basal cell skin cancer.
Squamous cell skin cancers (SCC) are found on the skin and develop in areas that are exposed to the sun like the eyelids. They don't often spread.
For more information, you can visit the Cancer Research UK website or for an overview of skin cancer, you can visit the NHS website.
A chalazion is a small lump or cyst that develops in your eyelid. Moorfields Eye Hospital has more information about chalazion on its website.
This condition is called trichiasis. Eyelashes grow back toward the eye instead of outward which causes them to rub against the eye. All About Vision has information about trichiasis on its website.
When tear ducts becomes blocked, tears build up and irritate the eyes which can cause swelling and pain. Sussex NHS has some helpful information about blocked tear ducts on its website.
Excess skin on the eyelids is a medical condition called dermatochalasis. This excess skin can lead to baggy or puffy eyelids which can obstruct vision. The NHS website has information about surgery to remove excess skin on eyelids which is called blepharoplasty.
An eyelid turning outwards is called ectropion. This mainly affects the lower eyelid and causes it to droop away from the eye. The NHS has more information about ectropion on its website.
Entropion is where the eyelid turns inwards towards the eye. This means that the eyelashes touch the surface of the eye causing discomfort. Moorfields Eye Hospital has produced this leaflet about entropion which has more information about the condition and how it is treated.