Orbital Disease & Surgery

The orbit describes the area of bone and soft tissue that surrounds the eyeball. This area can be affected by various cancers, infections, autoimmune diseases and trauma. Oculofacial plastic surgeons are considered the experts in management of orbital disease and reconstruction of the area that surrounds your eye. Dr. Douglas Casady and Dr. Audrey Ko are fellowship trained ophthalmologists that focus specifically on oculofacial plastic surgery at Wolfe Eye Clinic. Some of the most common orbital conditions that require medical and surgical management include thyroid eye disease, orbital tumors and eye removal.

Thyroid eye disease (TED) or Graves Ophthalmopathy

Thyroid eye disease is an autoimmune disease that affects the soft tissues around the eye, including the upper and lower eyelids, extraocular muscles and orbital fat.  The tissues become very inflamed and swollen, resulting in redness of the eye and eyelids, puffiness and swelling of the eyelids, dry eyes and inability to completely close the eyelids, and bulging of the eyes.  Many patients also feel pain or headache behind the eyes.  In severe cases, the optic nerve can become compressed, causing loss of vision.  Oculofacial plastic surgeons play a key role in the diagnosis and treatment of TED.  Medical management includes coordination of steroid therapy, orbital radiation therapy, and TEPEZZA ® (teprotumumab). Surgical management includes upper and lower eyelid retraction repair and orbital decompression surgeries. The oculofacial surgeons at Wolfe Eye Clinic are fellowship trained and are ophthalmologists who can help determine the best treatment for your unique condition.

Orbital Tumors

There are many tumors that can affect the orbit, or the area of bone and soft tissue around your eyeball. Some tumors are benign but may need to be monitored and possibly removed if they become too large and start affecting vision. Other tumors are malignant or may represent metastases from cancers elsewhere in the body (such as breast cancer). Oculofacial plastic surgeons are involved in the monitoring and surgical management of these tumors and can help you determine the best course of action for your condition.

Ocular Enucleation and Evisceration (Eye Removal)

At times, the eye may need to be removed due to trauma, cancer, infection or chronic pain. Oculofacial plastic surgeons perform this surgery and manage the anophthalmic socket afterwards. The oculofacial surgeons at Wolfe Eye Clinic are fellowship trained and have experience in helping patients through this procedure.  For more information including detailed information about this surgery, photographs and videos of how the socket looks and moves after surgery, and interviews of patients who have undergone this surgery, please visit the Eyerounds article here. The Eyerounds article was written and published by Wolfe Eye Clinic oculoplastic surgeon, Dr. Audrey Ko with her past patients at the University of Iowa.

Find an Orbital Surgeon or Orbital Disease Doctor in Iowa

Conditions that require orbital disease management or surgery can be overwhelming and the oculofacial surgeons at Wolfe Eye Clinic are here to help. Dr. Douglas Casady and Dr. Audrey Ko specialize in oculofacial surgery in Iowa from managing orbital diseases and surgery to facial reconstruction and eyelid surgery. They represent two of only six oculoplastic surgeons in Iowa with advanced fellowship training and they serve Wolfe Eye Clinic patients at our Ankeny and Des Moines clinics. If you would like to request an appointment, click here, or give us a call at (833) 474-5850.