What is the risk of blindness or visual impairment from surgical rhinoplasty?

Question

It's come to my attention surgeons can misplace tendons around the eye when breaking nasal bones. How likely it is it surgeons' work with tendons and bones around the can cause this outcome? What is the risk of osteotomies in rhinoplasty leading to these outcomes? How is this avoided in rhinoplasty? Osteotomies are a routine procedure; a very skilled rhino surgeon is being sued for doing this to a patient.

Michael Dobryansky, MD, FACS · Answer

Blindness is not a known complication of rhinoplasty. Even if there is muscle damage during osteotomy, which is by itself an incredibly unlikely event, that does not lead to blindness.

Ronald J. Edelson, MD · Answer

The complications you mention I suppose are possible but quite rare. These may result from medical negligence but could also happen when everything is done properly. I can’t comment on the case you mention.

Richard G. Reish, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question.  The best advice you can receive is from an in-person consultation.  Blindness is not a known complication of surgical rhinoplasty.  I recommend that you seek consultation with a qualified board-certified plastic surgeon who can evaluate you in person.
 
 Best wishes and good luck.

Richard G. Reish, M.D.  FACS

Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

William B. Rosenblatt, MD · Answer

I have been doing noses for over 40 years, I have never seen or heard of blindness from a nose job. You would have to go to a totally unskilled person to have this happento you. The osteotomies to in fracture the nasal bones are NOT in the orbit -- so they are no where near the eye. Major sinus surgery or sinus cancer surgery can affect the eye and orbit. Not a rhinoplasty.

What is the risk of blindness or visual impairment from surgical rhinoplasty?

Answers (4)

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