1 in 30,000 Become Blind After Eyelid Surgery - Fact or Fiction?

is it true that in 30000 eyelid surgeries 1 person becomes permanently blind ? Isn't this value too high ?

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12 Doctor Answers | Asked by kee2

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0.04% chance

The possibility of blindness after eyelid surgery (Blepharoplasty) is 0.04% according to the plastic surgery literature. This complication is due to bleeding with in the orbit that is restricted by the orbital septum and orbit structures. The bleeding source is usually from fat compartment blood vessels that have not been properly controlled after fat removal. The accumulating blood creates increase pressure and reduces the blood flow and oxygen to the optic nerve leading to blindness... more

The Exact Number Is Not Known

Blindness is a risk of any eye- or eyelid-surgery. It is indeed very rare in eyelid surgery. Surgeons have read about the possible complication and have learned how to avoid it, but few have ever actually seen a case! The number is derived from case reporting and estimates of how often Blepharoplasty is done.

Blindness or catastrophy after eyelid surgery

1 in 30,000 may be an accurate number. It may even be higher if you count for all the weird mishaps that can happen, i.e. CO2 laser scatter, eye infections, injury with instruments, serious corneal abrasions, etc. The older style eye surgery where fat was aggressively removed from the eye was more likely a cause. Obviously do not cut corners on your eye surgery.

It is rare

It happens very rarely and the true statistic is probably around one in a million. But if it happens to you , it is 1 in 1.

Blindness in one eye (or the other) extremely rare after blepharoplasty

To my knowledge, the best estimate in loss of sight (from hemorrhage--ie excessive bleeding into the orbit) from blepharoplasty is approximately 1/22,000 per eye. Of course this is an average, and other factors like use of blodd thinners, or aspirin, skill and experience of the surgeon, patient's care in following the post-surgical instructions would certainly have a bearing on the risk. Hope this helps. Mark Lucarelli, MD... more

Lightening striking

When I speak to patients I aways go over each and every possible complication. That being said I compare these type of freak accidents to being struck by lightening. It CAN happen but it almost certainly NEVR will. The fact of the matter is that driving on the freeway is much more dangerous than surgery

The rate is unknown.

Having said that the risk is real. Every time eyelid surgery is performed there is a risk of visual loss. For this reason, it is important that your assessment prior to eyelid surgery include an examination of your eyes including an assessment of your vision. Experience has some bearing on the rate of visual loss and certain procedures may have a higher risk of bleeding behind the eye which is the most common cause of blindness after eyelid surgery. Certainly your... more

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD

8 reviews

Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

Blindness after eyelid surgery

This is possible but the true rate is much less than 1 in 30,000. I have never seen this in my practice. One of my colleague had to take care of a corneal ulceration from inadvertent corneal penetration by a scalpel (the surgery was performed by a non-eye specialist). I heard there was a case of blindness from inadvertent globe penetration during anesthetic injection performed by eye resident physicians somewhere in the LA area. Most cases of blindness have to do with retrobulbar hemorrhage... more

Blepharoplasty and bleeding

Dear kee2, This is more like a freak accident. For more accurate statistics, talk to the plastic surgeon that is going to do your procedure. This should go along with all statistics because some surgeons are better than others. The main symptom of bleeding that is dangerous is unrelenting pain. If you catch it, there are usually minimal sequelae. If you go to an experienced surgeon, this shouldn't happen. Best, Nima Shemirani

Blindness after blepharoplasty

The rate of blindness after blepharoplasty is probably unknown as thousands of procedures are performed in office settings and the number of procedures is only estimated. The cause of blindness is bleeding, and estimated rates of blindness have been 0.04%, a very low number. The majority of plastic surgeons will never experience such a devastating complication. The risk is real as we all must understand, though a very rare one. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd

It is true

This is rare complication but known complication. The main cause of this is bleeding after surgery and delay in diagnosis.

Kamran Khoobehi, MD

28 reviews

New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

This is Fiction

Kee2, While there can be complications from any type of surgery; I have never heard of this statistic. Blindness due to an eyelid surgery has never happened at my practice.