VISION DISORDERS - OCULAR PLASTICS

Ocular plastics encompass the many surgical procedures and treatments that are used to reconstruct and repair the eye and its surrounding organs and tissues.  This includes plastic surgery to mend congenital deformities as well as those incurred through eye disease or surgery.  At Rocky Mountain Eye Center our ocular plastic surgeon specializes in eyelid, orbital and lacrimal (tear) gland procedures.  Patients throughout Montana choose Rocky Mountain Eye Center for restorative and reconstructive eye surgery.

  Ptosis Repair - Ptosis is the drooping of the upper eyelid. This condition is sometimes incorrectly referred to as a "lazy eye,” If severe enough and left untreated, the drooping eyelid can cause other conditions, like Amblyopia or Astigmatism. This is why it is especially important for this disorder to be treated in children at a young age, before it can interfere with vision development.

  Blepharoplasty -Blepharoplasty is intended to reshape the upper eyelid or lower eyelid by the removal and/or repositioning of excess tissue as well as reinforcement of surrounding muscles and tendons. When an advanced amount of upper eyelid skin is present, the skin may hang over the eyelashes and cause a loss of peripheral vision.

  Orbital tumors - Patients with adult orbital tumors usually present with gradual development of a double vision (diplopia), and pupillary abnormalities. The associated lid dysfunction and incomplete lid closure (lagophthalmos) or lacrimal gland dysfunction can result in exposure keratopathy, keratitis, and ocular pain. Management of orbital tumors depends on the type of tumor and associated symptoms. Orbital tumors typically present with early unilateral proptosis of the globe and may adversely affect visual and extraocular muscle function.

  Graves’ disease - Graves’ disease is a thyroid disorder characterized by goiter, exophthalmos, "orange-peel" skin, and hyperthyroidism. It occurs when your immune system mistakenly attacks your thyroid gland and causes it to overproduce the hormone thyroxine.

  Reconstruction - Reconstruction of the eye socket may be necessary because of injuries to the eye, treatment of ocular and orbital cancers or other diseases. When or blind and painful eye must be removed (enucleated), most patients will have the option of an orbital implant. They will then be referred to an oculist who specializes in creating ocular prostheses.