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Orbital decompression surgery is a procedure for removing a portion of bone and fatty tissue in a patient’s eye socket to alleviate pressure and help bulging eyes move back into a normal position. This surgery is often recommended for patients experiencing discomfort and vision complications from thyroid eye disease (or Graves’ disease), in which muscle and fat tissue swell and push eyes outward.
Orbital Decompression
What is Orbital Decompression Surgery?
What to Expect
Depending on the severity of the condition, orbital decompression surgery typically takes 2 to 2.5 hours. Patients are placed under general anesthesia to ensure they remain comfortable throughout the procedure.
The surgeon begins by making a small incision in the upper eyelid to carefully remove fat and a small amount of bone if needed. Next, the surgeon makes an incision in the lower eyelid to remove additional fatty tissue and some orbital bone to allow expansion for the eyeball into the space they’ve created. Then, your surgeon will close all the incisions using tiny absorbable stitches.
After the Procedure
Most patients may be required to stay in the hospital overnight for observations and typically get sent home in the morning.
Doctors typically recommend you avoid blowing your nose for the first few days after surgery, or engaging in strenuous activities for two weeks. Before you’re discharged, your care team will provide post-surgical instructions, including how to care for your incisions, medications you can and cannot take, and other recommendations to support proper healing.
While your incisions will heal within two weeks, it can take 1 to 2 years for your eyes to return to their normal position. Many patients find that other symptoms from thyroid eye disease, such as dry eye and double vision, also significantly improve during this time.
Risks & Benefits
As with all surgeries, orbital decompression surgery has a few risks, including:
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Scarring
- Optical nerve damage
- Vision loss
- Blocked tear ducts
Fortunately, the risks of complications are low, and the procedure offers many benefits, including improvements in appearance, comfort, and vision, and a decrease in dry eyes, watery eyes, and eye pressure and bulging.
Am I a Candidate for Orbital Decompression Surgery?
If you are experiencing bulging in the eyes with pressure on the optic nerve, headaches, double vision, a decreased ability to focus and/or dry eyes due to thyroid eye disease, you are likely a candidate for orbital decompression surgery. Your surgeon will take a thorough history and perform a comprehensive exam to determine the safest treatment option for you.
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