Is it safe to treat a varicose vein on the upper eyelid? (Photo)

It’s important to distinguish between varicose veins and spider veins when choosing between laser therapy, sclerotherapy, and vein surgery. With two board certified vein specialists, our center uses a combination of visual examination, functional flow measurements, ultrasound, transillumination, and infrared light to map out vein networks prior to therapy. Lasers can be used to treat deep varicose vein insufficiency, vein perforators, and varicose veins. Sclerotherapy is ideal for spider veins and reticular veins. Whereas surgery is reserved for severely incompetent varicose vein segments.


 
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Facial veins of that type can be safely treated with laser or sclerotherapy.  My first choice is the Nd:YAG laser. As long as the eye can be safely shielded from inadvertent exposure to the laser, it is safe and effective.

The treatment that we recommend for our patients with veins on your area of concern would be to use laser therapy.Treating facial area with laser requires a highly skilled medical provider. It is very important that you are evaluated first prior to any treatment(s) to be certain that this vein is treatable.Thank you for your question!

To wholeheartedly disagree with the previous answer, I would absolutely not recommend performing sclerotherapy in this area. I have personally treated hundreds of patients' legs with sclerotherapy, but have only treated 1 temple vein (with extreme caution), if that tells you anything. The risk here is that the injected product could migrate into the veins and arteries of the veins feeding the eye and retina, causing blindness or other eye injury. I think phlebectomy (removal with a hook) could be an option, but  you should be properly evaluated in person.

The pictured vein can be safely treated by several methods including sclerotherapy, topical laser or removal through tiny incisions.  I would use sclerotherapy.