dry eyelids after surgery

Eye care
1

I'm wondering if anyone suffers from dry skin on the eyelids after cataract surgery. I had my surgery in October 2018 , both eyes within a week of each other. No problems except about 3 weeks ago I noticed the bridge of my nose and one spot on both eyelids got flaky and very slightly red and I still have it. Depending on lighting, I sometimes can't see it at all, but at other times I do. I'm 65 so it could be dry skin as I age, but just wondering if surgery had any input. I did have sticky eye on my eyelids the first day after surgery but that was it. I don't suffer from dry EYES at all, just the eyelids and bridge of nose.

2

Mary - I developed flaky areas on my forehead, bridge of the nose and areas immediately under my eye. I asked the nurse on a follow-up visit about it and she indicated some people are sensitive to the “adhesive” on the mask that was applied on face for surgery. Mine went away after awhile.

3

Thanks Steve

4

This could be due to dry skin and winter months. I suffer from dry flaky skin and eczema and always worse in winter. This isn’t what dry eye is - unrelated to skin issue.
It may be a reaction to drops or something else to - allergic reactions can cause it. Are your eye lids itchy?

5

Hi Sue.An
Not really itchy but a slight sensation of something which made me want to touch it, every now and again and that is how I first saw it.
The only thing I’ve tried is to put fragrance free moisturiser on it, but it’s still there.

6

You could see a dermatologist but they usually prescribe hydrocortisone steroids which can quickly relieve the eczema but there are side effects to long term use of them. Better to try some over the counter moisturizer - some are for eczema. Polysporin makes one. I have also been making my own these days with essential oils mixed in bees wax and shea butter. Wish i had stopped the prescription eczema cream years ago. My surgeon feels they brought on my early cataracts in first place.

7

Thank you

8

Hi Mary! I’ve not heard dry skin on the eyelids being a side effect of cataract surgery, but you never know, right? You might want to check with your cataract surgeon. Or maybe seek advice from a dermatologist. Keep us posted - my surgery is coming up soon and I’m trying to stay calm and cool about it (ha!)

9

Believe it or not a good moisturizer is plain old Vaseline. You might want to try it a couple times to see if it helps.

10

I also, after surgery, sometimes have dry skin on the bridge of my nose. But I also have a slight swelling of the area between my upper eyelid and the brow (both eyes). Also happened after surgeries (October and November 2018). Thought it would go away by now, but it didn’t.

11

Interesting Adele. Maybe there is a connection after all. I have been thinking about those steroid eyedrops I put in my eyes for 5 weeks, (4 times a day). They would often spill over my eyelids and I think now that maybe they caused all this dryness?

And thanks mjcg I will definitely try Vaseline for a while.

Thanks guys