How do I clean dry blood from my eyes after lower eyelid surgery? (Photo)

Question

Lower eye lid surgery yesterday. There is some blood residue starting from the mid eye to to outer corner of the eye. It is dried up which is making it hard to open up the eye. How do i clean it? Warm water? Eye drops?

James R. Gordon, MD, FACS, FAAO · Answer

Thank you for sharing your question and posting your photograph. It is normal to have dried blood along the scar. Leave it alone for a few days, because you risk rebleeding if you remove it. After 3-4 days, you can gently remove it with a slightly damp cloth. Good luck,

Tim Sayed, MD, MBA, FACS · Answer

Ask your surgeon for specific recommendations. I instruct my blepharoplasty patients to lubricate the eye itself with artificial tears, which may wash over the lashes and suture line and help dislodge clotted material as you heal, without you having to rub or scrub the area. You want to be careful not to manipulate the area too much so you don't stir up bleeding. Ophthalmic antibiotic ointments like Tobradex are also commonly prescribed by surgeons to help moisten and protect the incision line. After about 5 days it may be safe to clean the area with a warm washcloth but you should check with your surgeon.

Kristina Tansavatdi, MD · Answer

I would recommend you call your surgeon's office to get an answer to your questions. Every surgeon has their own preference for caring for the wound site after surgery. Cold water compresses can be helpful to remove the hard blood crusts which can be annoying when you are trying to use your eyes and the lashes are shut closed from these crusts. I usually have my patients use cold damp washcloths and apply over the surface and this usually breaks it up without aggressively rubbing the area. However, I would check with your surgeon for more clarification.

Malcolm A. Lesavoy, MD, FACS · Answer

Your surgeon should give you instructions for post operative care, but the best way to remove dried blood is soaking with moist warm or cold washcloths, frequently.

How do I clean dry blood from my eyes after lower eyelid surgery? (Photo)

Answers (4)

More Eyelid Surgery Questions

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS

Answers (4)

More Eyelid Surgery Questions

Fibroblast for hooded eyes?

My eyes look symmetrical in the mirror but they don’t in iPhone pictures, are my eyes asymmetrical and why? (Photos)

Are my eyes very small? I know they are not big, but are the noticeably small?

7 weeks post op. Will color of eyelid after upper eyelid surgery change over time? (photo)

Would an upper blepharoplasty be effective for me?

Transconjunctival blepharoplasty. How long is bruising visible after this particular surgery?

WE SEND PRETTY EMAILS

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS