Histology of Müller’s muscle observed in quiescent Graves’ orbitopathy

Eyelid Surgery in Thyroid Eye Disease

PURPOSE

To review and summarize a comprehensive synopsis of surgery of the eyelid in thyroid eye disease (TED).

METHODS

A PubMed search for specific eyelid manifestations of TED was performed. Studies reporting surgical management of these were reviewed, along with the author's own experience.

RESULTS

The most common eyelid manifestations of TED include eyelid retraction, blepharoptosis, entropion, and epiblepharon, with most of them requiring surgical intervention. The correction of eyelid retraction has received maximum attention, with several surgical techniques that have stood the test of time. Blepharoptosis in TED that requires surgical intervention is usually aponeurotic. Entropion and Epiblepharon are rare in TED, and may resolve spontaneously, or following orbital decompression.

CONCLUSIONS

Retraction is the commonest eyelid manifestation of TED, with multiple surgical options available for its correction. Blepharoptosis, entropion, and epiblepharon are rare eyelid findings in TED, that may occasionally require surgical correction.

Orbital lymphocyte populations in three states of thyroid eye disease

Purpose

We report histopathologic orbital tissue analysis from three patients with thyroid eye disease (TED) - active, chronic, and post-teprotumumab to better characterize orbital cellular populations in these varying states of TED.

Observations

Orbital tissues in TED demonstrate minimal lymphocytic infiltration in fat and Mueller's muscle. Following teprotumumab treatment, the tissues were devoid of lymphocytes with only perivascular cuffs of T-lymphocytes remaining in orbital fat.

Conclusions and importance

In active TED, post-teprotumumab treatment, and in quiescent TED, orbital fat may not show significant inflammatory infiltration. More work is warranted to characterize specific cellular effects of teprotumumab and other biologics.

[The role of Muller's muscle in the occurrence and surgical treatment of the upper eyelid ptosis]

Muller's muscle of the upper eyelid (MM) remains a poorly understood anatomical structure, so its role in the emergence of upper eyelid ptosis provokes certain interest. This literature review examines the gradual rise of attention devoted to MM and describes existing methods of its surgical treatment. Despite progress in ptosis surgery, much remains unsolved. Taking into account the available literature data, it is necessary to further advance histological studying of MM, which will help develop pathogenetically founded surgical treatment of acquired upper eyelid ptosis.

[Fatty degeneration of upper tarsal muscle as etiological factor of acquired upper eyelid ptosis]

PURPOSE

To study the histological structure of the upper tarsal muscle (Müller's muscle of the upper eyelid) in patients with acquired ptosis and to confirm the presence of its fatty degeneration as an understudied etiological factor of upper eyelid ptosis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A retrospective analysis was performed covering 79 biopsy samples of Müller's muscle of the upper eyelid obtained intraoperatively. Histological examination was performed with samples prepared by waxing. Planning the surgery included determination of basic parameters and the 'transparency' symptom; the Müller's muscle projection area was examined in the inverted upper eyelid, and ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) of the upper eyelid structures was performed.

RESULTS

Among the study subjects, a group of 11 patients with isolated fatty infiltration of the upper tarsal muscle was identified. At the preoperative stage, in the group of patients with upper eyelid eversion, visibly thickened Müller's muscle advancing on the tarsus could be observed, as well as negative 'transparency' symptom; UBM showed thickened 'conjunctiva - Müller's muscle' complex, and a large number of hypoechogenic inclusions in the muscle in comparison with the intact eye. The removed muscle was thickened, yellow, with increased density and rigidity. Microsection of the histological preparations revealed fat cells located among bundles of smooth muscle fibers of the upper tarsal muscle and dispersion of smooth myocytes on the background of fat infiltration.

CONCLUSION

The presence of dystrophic changes in the upper tarsal muscle is proved with clinical, macromorphological and pathohistological methods; they can be one of the independent causes of acquired upper eyelid ptosis.

The success rate of TED upper eyelid retraction reoperations

Although reoperation rates for upper lid retraction surgery for thyroid eye disease (TED) typically range between 8% and 23%, there is little literature describing the outcomes of these second operations. In this retrospective observational cohort study, all patients that underwent surgery for upper eyelid retraction over a 14-year period at a single institution were included. Cases were included if a second eyelid retraction surgery was performed during the study period. Success of surgery was defined as a marginal reflex distance (MRD1) of 2.5 to 4.5 mm in each eye and less than 1 mm difference in MRD1 between the eyes. Overcorrection and undercorrection were defined as above and below these bounds, respectively. 72 eyes in 49 patients were included in the study. The mean age was 56.6 (±11.5) years. By definition, all patients had at least 1 lid lengthening surgery for upper eyelid retraction, and at least 1 subsequent surgery. For this second surgery, 61 eyes (85%) underwent retraction surgery and 11 eyes (15%) underwent ptosis surgery. After this second operation, 31% were undercorrected and 33% were overcorrected. A third surgery was performed in 19 eyes (25%), 12 had surgery for residual retraction and 7 for ptosis. After the third operation 10% of eyes were under corrected and 11% were over corrected. Four patients underwent a fourth surgery: one for retraction and three for ptosis. Success was noted in 35% after the second surgery and 44% after the third. Surgical success in eyelid retraction surgery increases from a second to a third consecutive surgery, and residual asymmetry was roughly equally distributed between over- and undercorrection.