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Tightening the Outer Corners of the Eyes with Blepharoplasty?
In my practice, we perform upper and lower blepharoplasty, and a careful history about dry eye must be obtained. The issue is that blepharoplasty can make eye dryness worse and interfere with your ability to protect your eyes, causing complications that can be as serious as blindness. The fact that you note you have some prominent globes increases possible complications. For patients with multiple risk factors, we typically employ several tests to determine the severity of your issues. These tests look at the anatomy and elasticity of your lids, your ability to protect your cornea, and the quality of the lubrication of your eyes. It sounds like your surgeon has recommended a canthopexy to tighten your lower lid. This can help with some of these problems. The cathopexy can have an impact on cosmetic result, but when done properly, this can be part of improving the overall look. Proceed with caution and make sure to discuss these issues in depth with your surgeon. Be sure to be dealing with a board-certified plastic surgeon in this situation.
Clinical Context
A canthopexy works by re-anchoring the lateral canthal tendon, the fibrous band that holds the outer corner of your eyelid to the bone, slightly higher and tighter against the orbital rim using a suture. It doesn't cut or shorten the tendon itself, just repositions and secures it, which changes how the lower lid sits against the eye and how much tension it holds during blinking. This matters because a lid that's been loosened by aging or prior surgery can drift downward, exposing more of the eye's surface and reducing the natural blink seal that keeps it lubricated.
