What ophthalmic diseases and disorders involve plastic and reconstructive surgery?
Graves’ Ophthalmopathy is a thyroid-related disorder that causes inflammation of the eye muscles, which enlarge within the eye socket. As a result, the eyes bulge and/or stare; the eyelids retract and often cannot close; and the eye’s surface dries and becomes uncomfortable. The swollen muscles can exert pressure on the optic nerve and threaten vision loss, the most serious consequence of Graves’ disease. Graves’ disease demands a multispecialty approach, often involving strabismus, oculoplastic and reconstruction expertise, as well as the skills of a neuro-ophthalmologist, a radiation expert, and an endocrinologist. When other medical therapies fail to reduce muscle swelling, special procedures can: • relieve pressure on the optic nerve by removing the part of the bony wall and floor of the eye’s socket, creating additional space for swollen muscles • reconstruct the eyelids to protect the cornea and cosmetically improve the patient’s appearance. This involves dropping the upper eyeli
