Oculoplastic In oculoplastic surgery, art and science come together to restore confidence in patients who suffer from eyelid disorders and orbital lesions such as tumours and fractures. Since its inception, the SNEC’s Oculoplastic Department has grown from strength to strength. It now performs close to 2,000 oculoplastic procedures that involve plastic and reconstructive surgery of the eyelids, lacrimal, orbital and facial tissues. The Department was first helmed by Dr Goh Swee Heng who had been trained in Moorfields Eye Hospital in the United Kingdom. She was succeeded by Adjunct Associate Professor Seah Lay Leng who advanced the understanding of orbital disorders and their management during her term. From 2001 to 2008, Adjunct Associate Professor Seah worked with Professor Jack Rootman of the University of British Columbia to train the department consultants in the management of more complex orbital disorders. Under this initiative, one of the consultants, Adjunct Associate Professor Audrey Looi, spent 18 months in Vancouver and acquired the knowledge and skills to help patients with these problems.
In 2000, the Aesthetic Eyeplastic arm of the department was set up to cater to the rising demand for aesthetic surgery, not only with regard to blepharoplasty but also other cosmetic procedures such as endoscopic small incision brow-lifts and mid-face lifts through the use of botulinum toxins and filler materials. Dr Choo Chai Teck, who was tasked to head this arm through the years, has been instrumental in the continuous developments in this field. Today, the Oculoplastic Department is led by Adjunct Associate Professor Audrey Looi who has put in place audits to benchmark the department’s work against the ‘best-in-class’ and in the world. To bring new perspectives to the field, fellows are sent to different parts of the world for training, while research is undertaken to better understand common problems such as ptosis, as well as less common and vexing disorders such as orbital inflammatory diseases. This will further improve patient care and surgical outcomes. Our Faculty
Our Services The Oculoplastic Department provides comprehensive care for the following areas: ● Eyelid disorders - Droopy eyelid/ptosis - Malposition: entropion/ectropion/retraction - Adnexal tumours - Neurological spasms ● Lacrimal disorders - Infections - Watery eye/nasolacrimal obstructions ● Orbital disorders - Infections - Fractures - Orbital tumours - Orbital inflammations - Thyroid eye disease - Vascular malformations ● Anophthalmic socket - Reconstruction - Ocularis/Prosthetic service ● Paediatric disorders - Congenital ptosis - Epiblepharon - Congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction - Congenital anophthalmia/microphthalmia Additionally, it provides: ● Oculofacial aesthetic surgery such as blepharoplasty, brow lifts and mid-face lifts 108
Adj Assoc Prof Audrey Looi Head & Senior Consultant
Dr Sunny Shen Deputy Head & Senior Consultant
Prof Chee Soon Phaik Senior Consultant
Dr Choo Chai Teck Senior Consultant Clinical Director, Aesthetic Eyeplastic Service
Adj Assoc Prof Seah Lay Leng Senior Consultant
Dr Livia Teo Consultant
Dr Morgan Yang Consultant
Dr Yvonne Chung Associate Consultant
Visiting Consultants Dr Elaine Chee Dr Lim Lee Hooi
Key Facts ● Annual prospective ptosis audits have been conducted from 2010 onwards to determine ptosis outcomes in a robust and reliable way. 97 per cent of patients expressed satisfaction with surgical results in 2010; 91 per cent of patients achieved good symmetry or no more than 1mm asymmetry ● Prospective clinical audits have also been established since 2010 to critically review surgical outcomes of entropion surgery. Surgical audits from 2010 showed 98 per cent of all cases achieved good lid-globe apposition ● Collaborated with the NUS Bioengineering Department on a resorbable implant for the repair of orbital fractures. This implant is now available for use clinically and is favoured in selected cases ● Conducted regular courses on advanced microsurgical skills, essential oculoplastic procedures as well as live surgery demonstrations over the years