Can Restylane Injected in the Tear Troughs Cause Blindness?

asked 1 year ago by melvine81 in woodlands
Latest answer by Joseph A. Eviatar, MD
Question viewed 1,149 times
Tags: tear trough

Will Restylane (injected in tear trough) enter blood stream and cause blindness? I am deeply concerned about reports claiming that the molecules of hyaluronic acid (from Restylane injection in tear trough) are small enough to penetrate into the blood stream , resulting in blindness as it block the blood vessel. Is this true? Thank you.

6 answers to Can Restylane Injected in the Tear Troughs Cause Blindness?

Theoretical risk of blindness from fillers near the eye

There is a theoretical risk of blindness when fillers are injected near the eyes, and even between the eyebrows. There are fortunately very few reported cases of this in the last few decades since collagen injections were developed. Slow injections, delivery of filler product during movement of the needle, and watching for any unusual response from the patient, helps the doctor minimize this already extremely low chance of a complication from happening. If a hyaluronic acid is used such... more

Ronald Shelton, MD
Manhattan Dermatologist

www.thenyac.com

Restylane in tear troughs should be placed very carefully

The blood vessels around the eyes have unique features that make injection into the tear trough and malar region a procedure that should only be done by experienced injectors. The issue is embolization of the filler (any type of filler- no just Restylane) into the blood supply of the retina. This would occur if the injection needle pushed he filler directly into the blood vessel. The mere presence of filler in the tear trough region poses no risk for embolization. The act of injection... more

Scott Sattler, MD
Bellevue Plastic Surgeon

Theoretically injecting Restylane in the tear troughs can cause blindness

Theoretically injecting Restylane in the tear troughs can cause blindness. If the Restylane is injected improperly, it can block an artery and lead to blindness. However this would be extremely rare. It’s always good to go to an oculofacial plastic surgeon for any injection done around the eye as they are specialists trained specifically in the anatomy of the eye and the delicate surrounding structures.

Joseph A. Eviatar, MD
Bronx Oculoplastic Surgeon

Restylane around eyes

There is a theoretical risk of occluding a vessel from restylane injection, however that is very very rare around the eyes, especially if the restyalne is injected via proper technique and correct location/plane. Dr T.

Mehryar (Ray) Taban, MD, FACS
Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

Fillers in the tear trough can theoretically lead to blindness but there are precautions that you can take to prevent it.

Fillers in the tear trough can theoretically lead to blindness but there are precautions that you can take to prevent it. The veins around your eyes and nose and center of the face are valveless and do not prevent particles from traveling back into the deeper tissues like your eyes and brain. It is possible to cause the particles that are injected with fillers to go back into the eye to cause blindness. But this is extremely rare. You can take some precautions to... more