A number of abnormalities of the eyelid and surrounding areas are the result of aging, trauma, disease or birth defect.  The goal of reconstructive surgery is to restore the normal function and appearance of the eyelid to the best degree possible.  Because the eyelids and surrounding areas are complex and delicate structures vital to sight, utilizing the expertise of a surgeon who specializes in surgery of this particular area is recommended to achieve the optimal reconstructive result.  

As an oculofacial plastic surgeon and board certified ophthalmologist, Dr. Galin Spicer specializes exclusively in complex issues and reconstructive problems of the eyelid, face and lacrimal areas.  One of the only board certified oculofacial plastic surgeons in the Charleston area, Dr. Spicer’s unparalleled level of training and experience uniquely qualifies her to perform a variety of specialized reconstructive services including:

Upper Eyelid Blepharoplasty:
Upper eyelid skin can lose its elasticity with age and begin to stretch. The result is often loose, baggy skin resting on the upper lids. The eyelid's excess skin can be severe enough to interfere with a person's peripheral vision. An upper blepharoplasty surgery will remove this excess skin, fat, and/or muscle in the upper eyelids to improve vision clarity and reduce the appearance of sagging eyelids.

Ptosis (Drooping Lid) Repair:
Ptosis can occur as the eyelid's elevating muscle, the levator, begins to weaken, causing the lid to droop downward from its normal position. In some cases, ptosis can restrict or obstruct a person's normal vision. Ptosis in adults is usually the result of aging, cataract or other eye surgery or injury. In children, ptosis is the result of maldevelopment of the eyelid's levator muscle. Known as congenital ptosis, this type of ptosis is usually associated with other eye-related abnormalities such as amblyopia ("lazy eye") or strabismus ("cross eyes"). Treatment of ptosis most commonly involves the surgical tightening of the levator muscle to improve eyelid elevation. In cases of severe ptosis, surgery many require the use of a sling to allow the forehead muscles to elevate the eyelids.

Ectropion occurs when the eyelid turns outward, falling away from the eye. This can cause dryness, redness, excessive tearing and inflammation of the eye. Ectropion repair surgery can improve these symptoms by restoring the eyelid to its normal position.

Entropion occurs when the lower eyelid turns inward, often leading to eye irritation. The eyelashes and skin can rub against the eye, causing redness, tearing and potential infections. Entropion repair surgery restores the eyelid to its normal position and alleviates many of these symptoms.

Eyelid and Facial Skin Cancer Removal:
Skin cancer frequently affects sun-exposed areas of the body, including the eyelids and face. These lesions may appear as painless nodules or tender sores that cause bleeding, crusting, and/or deformation of the skin. While sun exposure is the leading cause, other factors may increase the likelihood of developing skin cancer. Diagnosis of skin cancer is confirmed with an examination and tissue biopsy. Treatment of skin cancer most often requires surgical removal.

Treatment of Tearing Disorders:
Tear production plays a critical role in maintaining the integrity and health of the eye. Problems in the tear drainage system can develop causing excessive tearing, discharge and/or ocular infections. Comprehensive evaluation of the tear drainage system is necessary to identify and treat the underlying cause. Treatment may include the use of antibiotics or surgery. Surgery often involves alleviating blockages along the tear drain, eyelid tightening procedures or the use of stents. A commonly performed surgical procedure for a blocked tear drain is the dacryocystorhinostomy, or DCR, which creates an opening to allow normal drainage of tears.

Dry Eye Therapy:
Without adequate or normal tear production, redness, stinging and/or chronic irritation of the eyes can occur. Patients who suffer from dry eye symptoms are also at increased risk for eye infections. Lubricating the eyes with artificial tears and ointments are often effective in alleviating many of these symptoms. However, the use of prescription medications, eyelid hygiene, nutritional supplements, punctual plugs and surgical eyelid closure may be employed to improve insufficient tear production.

Blepharospasm/Facial Movement Disorders:
Many people suffer from uncontrolled muscle contractions of the face or eyelids. Blepharospasm is a type of involuntary muscle spasm that affects the eyelids and can result in difficulty opening the eyes, rapid eyelid fluttering, or forced contractions of the eyelid and brow. Hemifacial spasm is another type of uncontrolled muscle contraction that typically affects only one side of the face. Careful assessment is required to rule out other treatable causes of spasms such as dry eye syndrome or irritation of the facial nerve. Blepharospasm and hemifacial spasm can often be effectively treated with botulinum toxin injections that relax unwanted muscle contractions.

Thyroid Eye Disease:
Both hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland) and hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland) are often caused by an autoimmune condition. Many people diagnosed with these thyroid diseases, may also experience eye-related problems. The abnormal antibodies that cause these conditions can induce swelling and inflammation of the eye muscles, eyelids and tissues surrounding the eyes. As a result, many people experience pressure around the eyes, eye protrusion, eyelid retraction and impaired eyelid closure. Symptoms may include ocular irritation, double vision and in severe cases, permanent loss of vision. Careful observation, early intervention and the use of both medical and surgical treatments are essential in optimizing the function and health of the eye.

Gold Weights for Facial Paralysis:
Paralysis of the facial muscles can stem from injury, stroke or unknown causes (e.g. Bell's Palsy) and can result in an impaired ability to blink and close the eye. This impairment frequently leads to severe dryness, scarring and infections of the eye which ultimately can result in permanent vision loss. When the use of ocular lubricants fails to adequately protect the eye, surgical implantation of a gold weight into the upper eyelid can effectively reduce exposure of the eye.

Enucleation, Evisceration, and the Anophthalmic Socket:
At times, surgical removal of an eye is necessary. Causes leading to the need for surgical eye removal include intractable pain, severe injury, incurable infection or potentially life-threatening cancer within the eye. Restoration of the eye socket through the use of orbital implants and prostheses are employed to achieve and maintain a natural appearance and optimal function after surgery.