Orbital & Tear Duct Conditions

Patients with Graves thyroid disease can have enlargement of the muscles that move the eye and surrounding fat. This causes bulging of the eyes and can result in lost vision. Orbital decompressions open up the sinuses and allow the fat behind the eyeball that surrounds these enlarged muscles to herniate into the sinus cavity. This often improves vision.

Other patients can have blockage of the tear ducts that drain into the nose, resulting in tears that run down the cheek. Endoscopic surgery to open up the tear duct into the nose can easily alleviate this problem.

These surgeries around the eye are performed in close cooperation with oculoplastic surgeons from the MUSC Department of Ophthalmology.