I'm about 12 days past a successful bilateral blepharoplasty and brow elevation.  I'm searching for others who have had this surgery primarily to minimize or stop excessive sweat from excessive eylids from eye-burn.

My rationale is this: Excessive eyelids have excessive eccrine sweat glands which produce excessive sweat.  Excessive eyelids also retain sweat in its various liquid-crystalline stages.  
 
As a certified basketball referee, I have experienced a sweat-induced burning sensation in my eyes during games.  This is an ongoing distraction and causes an intermittent loss of focus. Moreover, the burning sensation continue on the drive home after the final game.
 
As the excessive eyelids "grew" in recent years I came to associate watering, burning, eyes with all forms of physical exertion, including aerobic workouts in the gym on an elliptical orbiter machine or a stationary bicycle, cycling outdoors, and while doing yardwork in warm weather.

Immediately following the surgery the sweat-burn problem disappeared.  Moreover, it has not recurred during otherwise-sweaty 10 km cycling trips in our recent July heat wave in Southern Ontario.
 
Although my eye surgeon acknowledges my theory and post-op relief, he is not eager to stake his livelihood on the first patient to present with burning eyes. 

Do any members or staff of this forum know of similar cases, or of journal articles that can be useful in persuading my Health Spending Account Provider to accept my claim of medical necessity.

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

G Vance, PhD July 26, 2011



 

Hello Dr. Vance.  Thank you for your post.  I am not aware of excessive skin on the eyelids causing excessive sweat and a burning sensation.  I am wondering whether you were wearing any products on your skin (such as moisturizers, sunscreen, make up, etc.) that could have caused the burning sensation.  I will continue to research this and repost a comment if I find anything.  I am happy to hear that your blepharoplasty has helped eliminate this problem for you.

*Always seek the advice of your plastic surgeon, physician, or other qualified health care professional concerning treatment of your specific medical condition.