09
Feb
Chronic Red Eyes From Ectropion. What Can Be Done?
Dr. John Burroughs is an experienced oculofacial plastic and reconstructive surgeon in Colorado Springs, CO. With the dry, high altitude environment, many patients in southern Colorado have dry, irritated eyes.
Many times this can be improved with ocular lubricants (artificial tears, gel, or ointment). This patient had chronic red eyes, discharge because of lower eyelid retraction and ectropion. These conditions often go together, but no always. Retraction is when the lower eyelids are pulled down too much showing the white sclera of the eye. Ectropion is when the eyelid margin is rolled away from the ocular surface. Either of these conditions can cause the eye to dry out and lead to discomfort, infections, poor vision, and eye scarring. This patient had failed to get by with conservative medical means of frequent use of ocular lubricants, so he was referred for a consultation with Dr. Burroughs. After discussing the options he underwent lower eyelid ectropion repair and had his eyelid, cheek junction (mid-facelift) performed and he has done much better. His eyes feel better and look better. Improved form leading to improved function. This is an outpatient surgery that takes under an hour to perform. Most commonly the results last for many years. Some patients that have a shortage of lower eyelid skin require a skin graft and some patients require internal eyelid grafts depending upon their specific cause of the lower eyelid retraction. Dr. Burroughs finds these surgeries to be very gratifying as they help patients feel better and have a better quality of life.
John Burroughs, M.D.
Dr. John Burroughs specializes in eyelids, orbits, and faces and has performed over 20,000 related procedures. His role in oculofacial plastic surgeries has been highly appreciated.
He is an alumnus of the Air Academy High School, University of Texas, and Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine), Maryland. He later followed a transitional internship and ophthalmology residency in San Antonio, TX, and has decades of aesthetic treatment experience.
Dr. Burroughs is American Board of Ophthalmology-certified and is a Fellow of the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic Reconstructive Surgeons and the American Academy of Ophthalmology and a member of many other associations. He is a lifelong learner and teacher.