Logo for University of Iowa Health Care This logo represents the University of Iowa Health Care

Oculoplastic, Orbit and Reconstructive Surgery

The Oculoplastics/Orbital Service provides examinations, diagnosis and treatment of disorders, anomaliles and injuries of the eyelids, tear ducts and the orbit (bony structure around the eye). This includes pre-operative and post-operative evaluation, and surgical management of oculoplastic/orbital problems.

The oculoplastic surgery clinic offers evaluation and surgery for children and adults who have eyelid or eye brow abnormalities due to genetics, aging, disease, trauma or previous surgery.

Cosmetic Surgery. Our physicians also perform a variety of cosmetic plastic surgery procedures, including blepharoplasty (lid lifts), and Botox treatments.

Conditions treated

  • Conditions requiring enucleation
  • Eyelid and Orbit Injuries
  • Eyelid Abnormalities:
    • Ectropion (i.e. the turning out of the lower lid)
    • Entropion (i.e. the turning in of the lower lid)
  • Graves' Disease, Thyroid Eye Disease, Ptosis 
  • Involuntary Eyelid Blinking

Treatments and services

  • Eyelid surgery including:
    • Entropion, ectropion, ptosis repair/correction
    • Blepharoplasty (i.e. "lid lift", plastic surgery of the eyelids to remove excessive skin or subcutaneous fat.)
    • Canthal resection, canthectomy, canthoplasty, canthoplasty Tarsorrhaphy
    • Removal of eyelid tumors (examples: basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma) 
  • Lacrimal apparatus surgery including:
    • DCR (Dacryocystorhinostomy) 
  • Eye removal
    • Enucleation
    • Evisceration
    • Exenteration 
  • Orbital Reconstruction including:
    • Ocular prosthetics (artificial eyes)
    • Orbital decompression
    • Other 
  • Cosmetic plastic surgery of the brows and orbital area
    • Botox injections
    • Blepharoplasty