Your doctor has advised that you have a lesion around your eyelid that needs to be removed. Depending on the nature of the lesion, a local or general anaesthetic may be used. Surgery may be quite simple or quite complicated.
If it is simple, the lesion may simply be removed and left to heal, similar to a graze on your knee.
At other times, for example a skin tumour, a large defect may be
left around your eyelid following removal of the tumour. This defect
needs to be filled in with skin and tissue from elsewhere. This may
be moved from another area close to your eyelid and/or it may be
taken from the other eyelid, behind your ear, from your neck or inside
your upper arm, this is called a skin graft. Your doctor will advise
you.
Often the surgery is performed in 2 or more stages over 2 or more
weeks in order to ensure the tumour has been removed completely.
This skin graft and other tissue will be stitched in place and great
care must be taken to avoid damaging it. Immediately after the skin
graft, the skin will be purple and will take several weeks or months
before it returns to a normal skin colour again.
You may have a firm pad put over the eye/skin graft for 24-48 hours.
You may be in some pain. Please take painkillers according to
instructions for this pain.
After the operation, you will be required to put ointment on the
wound and skin graft to keep it moist.
You will also be seen regularly in the Out Patients Department.
Possible Complications
You may have swelling and bruising of your eyelid around the site of
your operation and also the site from which the skin graft was taken,
but this should heal in a few weeks.
Sometimes, the skin graft may shrink and may cause some pull on
your eyelid.
Sometimes, the skin graft may have a wrinkled appearance.
There is a small risk of graft failure which may need further surgery.
The wound/graft can possibly develop an infection which would need
to be treated with antibiotics.
The colour of the skin graft may not completely blend in with the
skin colour around your eyelid and therefore the graft may be seen
forever.
In case of a tumour, further surgery may be required if it has not
been removed completely the first time. Even after a complete
removal there is always a small chance of it returning which may
need more surgery.
There is always a small risk of scarring, but this generally tends to
blend in with the skin creases and slowly fade over time.
General Advice and Information
The Ophthalmic Surgical Unit is a specialised unit which cares for
patients undergoing eye procedures on a day case basis.
The Unit cares for women and men. There are separate toilet
facilities for women, men and disabled patients.
Smoking
The Trust operates a No Smoking Policy and your cooperation with
this is appreciated.
Health and Safety
Our patients have poor vision. Please consider their safety by
cooperating with the following activities:
• Try not to obstruct corridors.
• To reduce the risk of injury to you and other patients, please avoid assisting others.
Where is the Ophthalmic Surgical Unit?
If you are registered disabled and have a ‘blue badge’ the nearest
car park is Woodlands which can be accessed from East Park Drive
near the Gastroenterology Department. From the car park, you can
walk directly into the Unit.
If you are not registered disabled / do not have a ‘blue badge’:
Please park in the multi-storey car park.
From here:
Enter the hospital using the Main Entrance where you will find the
retail stores.
Turn right up the stairs, escalator or lift. Go straight on down the
main corridor.
The Ophthalmic Surgical Unit can be found approximately 200
metres down this corridor.
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Author Ophthalmology Department
Approved by Opthalmology Directorate Meeting
Date of Publication 13/11/2025
Reference No PL/319 (v4)
Review Date 01/11/2028
