Removal of periocular veins by sclerotherapy.

PURPOSE

Prominent periocular veins, especially of the lower eyelid, are not uncommon and patients often seek their removal. Sclerotherapy is a procedure that has been successfully used to permanently remove varicose and telangiectatic veins of the lower extremity and less frequently at other sites. Although it has been successfully used to remove dilated facial veins, it is seldom performed and often not recommended in the periocular region for fear of complications occurring in adjacent structures. The purpose of this study was to determine whether sclerotherapy could safely and effectively eradicate prominent periocular veins.

DESIGN

Noncomparative case series.

PARTICIPANTS

Fifty adult female patients with prominent periocular veins in the lower eyelid were treated unilaterally.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Sclerotherapy was performed with a 0.75% solution of sodium tetradecyl sulfate. All patients were followed for at least 12 months after treatment.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Complete clinical disappearance of the treated vein was the criterion for success.

RESULTS

All 50 patients were successfully treated with uneventful resorption of their ectatic periocular veins. No patient required a second treatment and there was no evidence of treatment failure at 12 months. No new veins developed at the treated sites and no patient experienced any ophthalmologic or neurologic side effects or complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Sclerotherapy appears to be a safe and effective means of permanently eradicating periocular veins.