Post-cataract Surgery Droopy Eyelid

Discussion in 'Health & Wellness' started by Cody Fousnaugh, Nov 20, 2018.

  1. Cody Fousnaugh

    Cody Fousnaugh Supreme Member
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    Anyone here get this after cataract surgery?

    Apparently, both the eyelid speculum, that was used to keep each eyelid open during each surgery and the possibly the NSAID prescription eyedrops I was using, one of them being a steroid, affected both of my eyelids. More of the left eyelid than the right. As of yesterday, I'm no longer using any prescription eyedrops per my surgeon, who I seen yesterday.

    Thing is, I guess my surgeon thought my eyelids were fine, because nothing was discussed, as in a "precaution" prior to either surgery. It was my surgeon's assistant that told me about what the eyelid speculum could do to the eyelid, but that it would return to normal in time. When the eyelid speculum is used, it stretches the eyelid and the muscle that is used to fully open the eyelid. This muscle doesn't work properly after the speculum is used. The muscle is suppose to (note the words "suppose to") regain strength over time, which can be between 4 and 6 months.

    I'm thinking about, later, trying some eyelid drooping cream, to see if it helps if the eyelid doesn't come back to where it was.

    Any thoughts?
     
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  2. Cody Fousnaugh

    Cody Fousnaugh Supreme Member
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    Nobody here ever heard of this problem, droopy eyelids?
     
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  3. Nancy Hart

    Nancy Hart Veteran Member
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    @Cody Fousnaugh , I've never heard of it, but it makes sense it could happen the way you describe. I would try some exercises, rather than cream, to maybe hurry along regaining strength, just like any other muscle. Maybe just try opening your eyes as wide as possible and blinking whenever you don't have anything else to do.
     
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  4. Cody Fousnaugh

    Cody Fousnaugh Supreme Member
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    Just looked at my other thread about the surgery. seen that Ken's wife and Hal had the cataract surgery and asked them, on that thread, if either of them got the "droopy eyelid" thing.
     
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  5. Cody Fousnaugh

    Cody Fousnaugh Supreme Member
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    Well, I read about a lady, on a medical website, that her eye surgeon told her, after her cataract surgery, that she'd need eyelid surgery. Instead, she tried, and succeeded, in using a serum eyelid lifter on her eyelids and it worked. She no longer has the "droopy" thing. However, another person tried the serum and they felt a "burning" sensation and stopped using the serum. Some people it can work on and not others.
     
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  6. Yvonne Smith

    Yvonne Smith Senior Staff
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    I think that exercising the eyelids sounds like a good idea, @Nancy Hart and it makes a lot of sense. Anytime that I have had to have any kind of procedure, the first thing they do is want a person to exercise and start that body part healing.
    Because they could not do knee surgery on my knee, the sports med doctor said to exercise it, and now it works much better. It seems to me like it would also strengthen the eyelid muscle and help it work right after surgery,too.
     
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  7. Bobby Cole

    Bobby Cole Supreme Member
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    There are several muscles involved with the eye lid and thus far @Nancy Hart gave you the best suggestion.

    Heck, I was going to suggest “duct tape” but Nancy’s idea is actually more medically and therapeuticly sound.
     
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  8. Cody Fousnaugh

    Cody Fousnaugh Supreme Member
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    Here is the main eyelid muscle: The levator palpebrae superioris muscle retracts the eyelid, exposing the cornea to the outside, giving vision. IOW, it's only one muscle that mainly controls the function of the eyelid. This is the muscle that was weakened by the speculum instrument used to keep the eyelid open for surgery. I'm having the same problem with the right eyelid, but not as bad as the right eyelid.
     
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  9. Cody Fousnaugh

    Cody Fousnaugh Supreme Member
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    Yvonne, I read online that it can take 4 to 6 months to regain the strength in this eyelid muscle that was weakened by being stretched.
     
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  10. Bobby Cole

    Bobby Cole Supreme Member
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    So, exercise it.
     
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  11. Yvonne Smith

    Yvonne Smith Senior Staff
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    Yes, that makes sense to me. It took me several months of almost daily exercising the knee muscles before I started to notice a change in the flexibility of my knee, and over a year before it would actually bend. To strengthen a muscle always takes work and time.
     
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  12. Cody Fousnaugh

    Cody Fousnaugh Supreme Member
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    I know, Bobby, but after going thru a complete exercise regiment for my hip replacement and both of my rotator cuff surgeries, I'm sort of "exercised out". But, since you are pushing me to exercise both eyelids, I will. Thanks!
     
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  13. Bobby Cole

    Bobby Cole Supreme Member
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    Good! It was Nancy’s suggestion but exercise worked on everything else for you so blink away and have fun.
    Just think, you do not even have to have a physical therapist to teach you how to do it!
     
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  14. Nancy Hart

    Nancy Hart Veteran Member
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    Don't overdo it Cody, it might become a habit you can't get rid of, if you do it too much. (Just kidding ;))
     
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  15. Cody Fousnaugh

    Cody Fousnaugh Supreme Member
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    What...….exercise? We don't mind exercise as long as it's at the Range or on our boat. In fact, we may head to the Range sometime during the next few days that my wife is off.
     
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