Before you can undergo such surgery, your surgeon will check with your insurance company to determine whether your procedure is covered. An oculoplastic surgeon is an ophthalmologist who has completed additional training that focuses on the management of eyelid abnormalities, tearing problems, and orbital disease.

Because of the potential out-of-pocket cost of an oculoplastic procedure for the patient, it is important that you ask your surgeon to thoroughly explain the benefits of your procedure.

According to one study (Eye [London], 2012), patients who had undergone one of four commonly performed oculoplastic procedures derived significant quality-of-life benefits from it. These procedures included:

• Ectropion repair, which corrects eyelids that turn outward
• Ptosis repair, which corrects drooping of the upper or lower eyelid
• External dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR), which restores the flow of tears

Most oculoplastic surgeries can be performed on an outpatient basis, which means you go home the same day and recovery is fairly quick.

It is difficult to estimate the number of oculoplastic procedures performed in the United States each year. Oculoplastic surgery is performed on people of all ages for many different reasons.

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, blepharoplasty (repair of droopy eyelids by removing excess skin, muscle, and fat) is one of the top five cosmetic plastic procedures performed. In 2012, over 200,000 blepharoplasties were performed in the United States.