Could opening eyes too hard cause ptosis surgery to fail?

Question

I got surgery 1 years ago, result turns out very good, but sometimes I will open eyes a lit bit harder than usual. Will this undone my surgery result? My surgeon said he retouched my eye muscle during the procedure.

Ann Jayaram, MD · Answer

Thanks for reaching out, great question! It is not typical for forceful opening to affect your ptosis repair. In fact, more than one month after surgery, very few things other than very vigorous rubbing or facial trauma can cause these sutures to slip! However, if you have any concern at all, definitely return to your plastic surgeon for an evaluation! Hope that helps!

Anthony P. Terrasse, MD · Answer

Hello, thank you for your excellent question! If would be unlikely for the act of opening your eyes with normal force to undo or ruin the results of your ptosis surgery. Things to avoid however are rubbing your eyes as much as possible or other unnecessary eye touching and sleeping on your stomach or face. Good luck!

Mark L. Mazow, MD, FACS · Answer

There is no reason to believe that opening your eyes forcefully will affect your ptosis surgery. Rubbing your eyes hard or frequently or sleeping on your side or stomach could affect the result, but not opening them.

Sara A. Kaltreider, MD (retired) · Answer

Trauma or rubbing the eyelids could loosen the levator muscle attachments, but opening the lids will not harm the surgery. It is best to avoid unnecessary hand-to-eye contact, eye-rubbing, and sleeping directly on your face. Best wishes.

Could opening eyes too hard cause ptosis surgery to fail?

Answers (4)