I Cut My Eyelid. What Should I Do?

Your eyelids play a vitally important role in protecting your eye and keeping it healthy. When a lid is cut or lacerated, that means your eye and your vision could be affected as well. Getting prompt treatment is essential for preventing lid infections or deformities and for maintaining the health and function of the rest of your eye.

Lid lacerations are typically associated with blunt trauma or contact with an object. At Rostami OPC in Fairfax, Virginia, our doctors are skilled at repairing eyelid lacerations of both the upper and the lower lid, preserving both the function and the appearance of the natural lid.  

Lid lacerations need immediate attention

Repairing a torn eyelid involves a lot more than making sure the lid looks normal afterward. Even though the eyelid may look like little more than a “flap” of skin, it performs functions that are critical to the health of your eye.

Your eyelids contain structures that help your eyes produce tears and drain away excess fluid. Muscles help you open and close your eye and blink to distribute tears, lubricate your eye, and wash away debris. Eyelid repair must take those important functions into account, along with ensuring the lid looks normal.

Eye damage and infections

Lid lacerations may involve only the skin and underlying tissues without fully penetrating to the underside, or they may be a complete tear that may or may not involve the margin or edge of the lid. The extent of the tear and the tissues involved determine the type of repair you need.

Some lid lacerations can involve other eye structures, like the cornea (clear covering of the eye) or the sclera (the white part of the eye). When eye damage is present, our doctors customize your care plan to include treatment optimized for preserving the normal function of your eye, as well as your vision.

After an eyelid is cut or torn, infection can set in. Without immediate care, infections can cause tissue death that can compromise the lid and even the eye itself. That means any repair must take precautions to help prevent infection or treat an infection if bacteria are already present.

Multi-faceted approach

Because eyelid lacerations can involve both cosmetic and functional damage, treatment must be customized to the type of damage, the extent of the injury, the structures involved, and your unique anatomy to ensure the best results. 

Follow-up care is also important to make sure the lid and tear system are functioning properly, as well as to check for infections in the lid or surrounding tissues.

If you have any type of eyelid injury or other problem involving your lids, getting prompt care is essential for your eye health and vision. Call Rostami OPC today or book online to schedule an evaluation with one of our doctors.