Chase's Surgery

Chase's surgery will be Monday, July 28th at Peoria's OSF Saint Francis Medical Center. Dr. Cuite said there will be one hour of prep, one hour of surgery, and one hour of recovery. The left eye is in need of the surgery more than the right, however with this type of surgery it's necessary to do both eyes because it does change the appearance. The incisions will be made at the lash line from the inside (by the nose) about 2/3's of the way out. There is a minimal chance the surgery may have to be repeated in 10 years or so.

The condition is called involutional entropian. Entropian is defined as:

a medical condition in which the eyelids fold inward. It is very uncomfortable, as the eyelashes rub against the cornea constantly. Entropion is usually caused by genetic factors and may be congenital. Trachoma infection may cause scarring of the inner eyelid.

I don't have the exact numbers but Dr. Cuite said that involutional entropian is very rare in children. She herself has performed this surgery only 4 times on children Chase's age and said that it might be possible to find an Oculoplastic Surgeon in his/her 60's that may have performed it 6-10 times. However, she performs this surgery in older children and adults on a weekly basis. If you want to read more about her, you can visit her website at: http://drcuite.com/