What are periocular veins?
Periocular veins may be noticed above the eyebrows on the outer part of the forehead but are mostly become prominent at the outer aspect of the eyes and may continue onto the lower eyelid. They are blue and may be quite prominent.
What might cause periocular veins to appear more prominent?:
As we age our skin loses collagen and thins allowing structures that are below the surface to be more visable.
How can periocular veins be treated?
An experienced laser physician can treat periocular veins using the 1064nm Nd:YAG laser. Patients must always wear protective eye shields during the procedure and the treated area is cooled immediately after the treatment. While we prefer treating these veins with the Nd:YAG laser, it is possible to treat them with sclerotherapy or micro phlebectomy. In sclerotherapy a small needle is used to inject a substance, Alsclera in our practice, into the vein to irritate the inner lining and promote closure. With microphlebectomy the area where the vein runs is numbed and the vein is cut at both ends under the skin and gently teased out.
How many laser treatments are required to reduce periocular veins?
Sometimes the veins will resolve adequately in one treatment, however we encourage our patients to plan an likely have two treatment six weeks or more apart.
What are some of the common side effects of laser treatment of periocular veins?
The most common side effect is the possibility of bruising.
