If you’re dealing with bulging or discomfort around your eyes, it can feel overwhelming and impact your everyday life. Exophthalmos, or prominent eyes, is often more than just a cosmetic concern — it can be a sign of an underlying condition, like thyroid eye disease, that puts pressure on your eye socket. This pressure can lead to persistent irritation, vision issues, and a sense of self-consciousness. Over time, if left untreated, it can even cause serious long-term problems, including vision loss.
The good news is that orbital decompression surgery offers a proven way to relieve that pressure, enhance the appearance of your eyes, and restore your comfort and confidence. Dr. Raymond Douglas, a highly skilled aesthetic and reconstructive oculoplastic surgeon, helps both new and existing patients at his Beverly Hills office, providing personalized care for their orbital surgery needs.
Here’s everything Dr. Douglas wants you to know as you consider and prepare for orbital decompression surgery.
What Is Orbital Decompression Surgery?
Orbital decompression surgery is a procedure designed to relieve the pressure that builds up in the eye socket, often caused by thyroid eye disease. By removing small amounts of bone or fat from the area around your eyes, the surgery creates more space, allowing your eyes to rest in a more natural, comfortable position. Not only does this improve how your eyes look, but it also helps reduce discomfort and ease any related symptoms you might be experiencing. Ultimately, it brings both physical relief and a boost to your confidence.
Why Might You Need Orbital Surgery?
If you have bulging eyes—known as exophthalmos—it could be a sign of an underlying condition, like thyroid eye disease (TED), which causes pressure to build up in your eye socket. This pressure can make your eyes feel uncomfortable, cause persistent irritation, or even affect your vision. Over time, it could lead to more serious problems, including vision loss.
But it’s not just the medical issues that can affect you—having prominent eyes can also impact your self-esteem and confidence. If you’re feeling self-conscious about your appearance, it’s understandable.
Orbital decompression surgery offers a way to relieve that pressure, improve the appearance of your eyes, and restore your comfort. It addresses both the physical discomfort and the emotional toll that conditions like TED can cause, helping you feel better in every way.
How to Get Ready for Orbital Surgery
To get the best results and make your recovery as easy as possible, you need to prepare for orbital decompression surgery. Here’s what you need to know to be ready for your procedure:
Cutting Down on Substances
In the weeks leading up to your surgery, you need to avoid substances that can affect your healing or the anesthesia. This includes:
- Smoking: Try to stop smoking at least 2 weeks before surgery as it can slow down the healing process and increase the risk of complications.
- Alcohol: Cut back or stop drinking to avoid any impact on your healing and overall health.
- Blood thinners: Medications or supplements that thin your blood—ginkgo biloba, St. John’s Wort, certain pain relievers—stop taking before surgery. Ask Dr. Douglas what medications or supplements to stop.
By doing this, you will reduce the risk of complications and make your recovery easier.
Prepare Supplies You Need at Home
Having everything you need at home will make the recovery much more comfortable. Here’s what you should have:
- Cold Compresses or Ice Packs: These will be essential to reduce swelling and pain after surgery. Make sure you have them handy.
- Medications: Have your antibiotics, pain relievers, and any other medications nearby so you can take them as instructed.
- Soft Foods and Drinks: Stock up on soft, easy-to-eat foods like smoothies, yogurt and soups, which will be gentle on your body while you recover.
Also, have a cozy spot to rest with extra pillows to keep your head elevated. Have water, tissues, and other essentials nearby so you don’t have to get up as much.
Emotional and Physical Support
You may need some extra help in the first few days. Here’s what to do:
- Get Ahead: Take care of grocery shopping, meal prep and other tasks before surgery so you can focus on resting and healing.
- Ask for Help: Having a friend or family member nearby to help with daily tasks like meal prep, errands or emotional support can make a big difference in your recovery.
- Plan for Emotional Wellbeing: Surgery can be an emotional experience so make sure you have ways to stay calm and positive during recovery. This might be setting up a favorite book or movie for relaxation or reaching out to loved ones when needed.
Follow Pre-Operative Instructions
Dr. Douglas will give you specific instructions on how to prepare for surgery. Make sure to follow these closely. This may include fasting before surgery or taking medication the night before. Call the office if you have any questions before your procedure.
Recovering from Orbital Decompression
It takes about two weeks for recovery after orbital decompression surgery. Particularly in the first week after your procedure, you need to take it easy, avoiding bending over too much or blowing your nose. Once you’ve recovered, your symptoms of distorted eye appearance, discomfort, and vision issues should resolve.
Tips for a Quick Recovery
To make it even smoother, try:
- Balanced Diet: Eat soft, nutritious foods like smoothies, oatmeal, and broths in the first few days. Avoid salty or processed foods that can make swelling worse. Stay hydrated to heal.
- Don’t Do Strenuous Activities: While rest is important, light walking can help circulation and prevent stiffness. Avoid heavy lifting, bending over, or high-impact activities for at least 2 weeks.
- Manage Swelling with Compresses: Apply cold compresses or ice packs as directed to reduce discomfort and swelling. Remember to wrap ice in a cloth to avoid touching your skin directly.
- Watch for Warning Signs: Keep an eye out for any unusual symptoms like persistent pain, increased redness, blurred vision, or fever. If any of these happen, call Dr. Douglas’ office.
Contact Dr. Raymond Douglas For an Orbital Decompression Consultation
If you’re dealing with discomfort or concerns about your eyes, Dr. Raymond Douglas is here to help. With his experience in aesthetic and reconstructive oculoplastic surgery, Dr. Douglas will work with you to create a personalized treatment plan that fits your unique needs.
To learn more about how Dr. Douglas can help you with customized orbital decompression treatment, contact our office today to schedule an appointment.