Trauma (eyelid lacerations)

Your eyelids are delicate. They protect your eyes, blink thousands of times a day, and contribute to your appearance. So when you suffer a cut or tear on your eyelid — whether from an accident, a fall, or trauma — it’s not only frightening, it’s deeply personal.

But here’s the good news: you are not alone. And you’re not without options.
Dr. Alexander Rabinovich, a leading ophthalmic plastic surgeon in Brooklyn, New York, has helped countless patients recover from eyelid injuries with precision, care, and compassion.If you or someone you love is facing an eyelid laceration, this guide is for you.

An eyelid laceration is a cut or tear in the skin and underlying tissues of the eyelid. These injuries can vary from minor to severe, and because the eyelid is such a delicate structure with critical roles in vision and eye health, even small injuries deserve expert evaluation.

Common causes include:

• Sharp objects (glass, metal, tools)
• Falls or blunt trauma
• Sports injuries
• Animal scratches or bites
• Car or bike accidents

The eyelid isn’t just skin. It contains muscles that open and close the eye, tiny ducts that drain your tears, nerves that control movement, and eyelashes that protect the eye surface. All of this in a structure just a few millimeters thick.

Improper treatment of an eyelid laceration can lead to:

• Permanent scarring
• Asymmetry
• Drooping of the eyelid (ptosis)
• Incomplete eyelid closure (lagophthalmos)
• Tearing problems
• Long-term eye irritation or vision complications

That’s why eyelid trauma should never be treated like a regular skin wound. It requires the trained eye and experienced hands of a specialist.

Dr. Rabinovich specializes in oculoplastic surgery — a unique field that combines ophthalmology with reconstructive and cosmetic plastic surgery around the eyes. With deep knowledge of eye anatomy and a delicate surgical touch, he offers both medical expertise and aesthetic sensitivity.

His approach includes:

✅ Precise Evaluation
Using magnification and advanced imaging if necessary, Dr. Rabinovich assesses the full extent of the injury — not just what’s visible on the surface.

✅ Meticulous Repair
He carefully aligns the tissues, preserves muscle and duct function, and uses micro-sutures that reduce scarring and promote smooth healing.

✅ Minimally Invasive Techniques
Whenever possible, the repair is performed under local anesthesia with minimal downtime and optimal cosmetic outcome.

✅ Long-Term Follow-Up
Dr. Rabinovich ensures healing is on track and provides follow-up care to address concerns like scar prevention or lid function.

• Stay calm and protect the eye. If there is active bleeding, gently apply clean gauze without pressure. Avoid touching the eye itself.
• Do not try to treat the wound at home. This is not a situation for home remedies or over-the-counter ointments.
• Seek immediate medical attention. The sooner the injury is seen by an expert, the better the outcome.
• Contact Dr. Rabinovich’s office. His Brooklyn practice welcomes emergency and urgent eyelid trauma cases. You can reach out via the website chat or book through ZocDoc.

Many patients come to Dr. Rabinovich scared — worried about their appearance, their vision, or their child’s future. And time and again, they leave his office with confidence, comfort, and clarity. That’s because he doesn’t just repair eyelids. He restores function, beauty, and peace of mind.

📍 Dr. Alexander Rabinovich
Ophthalmic Plastic Surgeon
Brooklyn, New York
🖥️ Schedule online or chat with the office through the website.

Numerous mechanisms of blunt and penetrating facial trauma may result in eyelid lacerations. Even seemingly innocuous blunt objects in the workplace can cause eyelid lacerations in experienced workers.

Eyelid lacerations may involve the lid margin, requiring a meticulous suture technique.

Occasionally, laceration may involve lacrimal system in which case repair is done in OR to repair lacrimal system with stenting. This prevents future problems with tearing.

Overall goal of the repair is to make the eyelid functional and cosmetically match the unaffected eyelid.