Doctors on Duke University Eye Center's Oculoplastic and Orbital Surgery Service routinely treat patients with these disorders. They also perform surgery for cosmetic enhancement and reconstruction of the eyelids and upper face. Membership in the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery is restricted to ophthalmologists who have been certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and who have also passed rigorous tests in this specialized field. The word plastic is derived from a Greek word that means to mold or to give form.
Plastic surgery is surgery that molds or reconstructs parts of the human body.
Ophthalmic plastic surgery is plastic surgery that is limited to the structures surrounding the eye. Since such surgery can affect one's ability to see, ophthalmic plastic surgeons are best qualified to perform this delicate surgery and also provide any care that the eye itself may need. Procedures are routinely performed to correct eyelid abnormalities resulting from birth defects, aging, tumors, injury or medical diseases such as thyroid disorders. As a general rule, insurance companies will cover part of the costs of functional eyelid surgery, but not of cosmetic surgery. Duke University Eye Center, All Rights Reserved.