Can you go blind with Blepharoplasty?

The cases of blindness following blepharoplasty or eyelid plastic surgery are so rare that one author has reported the occurance in about 1 in 800,000 cases. The risk of bleeding is highest in the first 3 hours after surgery, so monitoring in the recovery area for the first 3 hours eliminates most of the risk... more

Blindness after a blepharoplasty is an extremely rare complication that can occur from bleeding or infection. Both of those incidences are extremely rare, and we have never seen them in private practice.

You can.  This is a well know risk and complication, although very rare.  This procedure may be rather simple but it does have its devasting complications just like any other plastic surgery procedures.  There are things that we do in the operating room to prevent this and there are things that... more

Yes. You can. Blindness associated with Blepharoplasty is a recognized potential complication of Blepharoplasty which happens to be among the rarest of all its complications. EVERY board certified Plastic surgeon is aware of this complication and of its most common cause - bleeding around the eyeball putting... more

This is a very rare complication that could occur due to bleeding inside the eye cone. Increased pressure from the bleeding leads to obstruction of the blood supply to the optic nerve. All board certified plastic surgeons are well trained on ways to prevent this complication and how to treat it very quickly if... more

Excessive bleeding into the eye after lower eyelid surgery may result in blindness. This is because the bleeding into the eye causes so much pressure that the normal blood flow to the eye cannot get through and blindness may result. Fortunately, this is an extremely rare complication . Well-trained eyelid... more

Dear Cherri The risk of blindness associated with blepharoplasty would primarily be from uncontrolled bleeding behind the eyelid after surgery. The expanding pool of blood in the confined space around the eye raises the pressure to the point where the circulation of blood to the retina is effected resulting in... more

Yes. It is rare in the upper eyelid blepharoplasty but has been reported in lower eyelid blepharoplasty. Typically happens from bleeding inside the fatty tissue of the lower eyelid. If not addressed immediately then pressure from the accumulating blood can cause permanent damage to the optic (eye) nerve... more

This is a very rare complication. The usual cause is bleeding that goes unrecognized or a disease that occurs concurrent or as a coincidence such as a retinal artery occlusion, temporal arteritis or stroke. Since you are concerned discuss this with your plastic surgeon to allay any fears you may have. Good... more

I believe that the risk is about 1 in 10,000 eyelid procedures. Although I have never seen it myself, I have read case reports and heard about it at conferences. Blindness may occur with bleeding after blepharoplasty. If this is not treated in a timely fashion, the increased pressure within the eye socket may... more