Objective quantification of the impact of blepharoplasty on the superior visual field

Evaluation of visual field and ocular surface parameters by clinical comparison after blepharoplasty for dermatochalasis

PURPOSE

To evaluate the effect of upper eyelid blepharoplasty surgery on corneal topography, visual field, ocular surface, meibography, corneal biomechanics and dry eye parameters.

METHODS

This prospective study included a total 80 eyes of 40 patients. Following a detailed ophthalmological examination, standardized patient satisfaction questions were posed to patients before and after upper eyelid blepharoplasty surgery. Visual field test, non-invasive break up time (NIBUT), meibography, and corneal topography parameters were analyzed and evaluated.

RESULTS

The mean (+) visible areas in the visual field were found to be 46.20±24.96 preoperatively, 56.73±21.98 at the 1st postoperative month and 65.96±18.5 at the 3rd month, which were statistically significant. NIBUT values preoperatively, at 1 month and at 3 months were 11.26±4.48, 11.16±4.5 and 10.14±4.0, respectively, which were statistically significant. Meibomian gland loss rates on meibography preoperatively and postoperatively at 1 and 3 months were found to be 30.24±8.3, 29.36±8.2 and 28.22±7.7 respectively and were statistically significant. With the scoring system after blepharoplasty, patients reported improvement in their symptoms.

CONCLUSION

Upper eyelid blepharoplasty surgery is predicted to increase the quality of vision. It was observed that there was a functional and cosmetic improvement in the complaints of the patients after blepharoplasty. However, blepharoplasty may cause changes in eyelid dynamics and cause dry eye syndrome.

Complete Preservation of Orbital Fat by Restoration of Attenuated Orbital Septa Using an Acellular Dermal Matrix in Lower Blepharoplasty

BACKGROUND

We hypothesized that application of acellular dermal matrix (ADM) over the orbital septum overlying the herniated orbital fat to tighten and strengthen the attenuated orbital septum in lower blepharoplasty would allow successful repositioning of the herniated orbital fat within the bony orbit.

METHODS

The author prospectively compared the cosmetic outcomes of lower blepharoplasty using ADM with standard blepharoplasty. We evaluated recurrence of eyelid bulging and tear trough deformity, volume of the lower periorbital region, and enophthalmos and eyelid droop 1 year after surgery.

RESULTS

Twenty-two of the 24 enrolled patients completed the study. There was no significant difference in recurrence of eyelid bulging and tear trough deformity between standard blepharoplasty and blepharoplasty with ADM graft groups. In the standard blepharoplasty group, the volume of the lower periorbital region decreased significantly after surgery. In the blepharoplasty with ADM graft group, there was no significant change in the volume of the lower periorbital region after surgery. In the standard blepharoplasty group, there was no significant change in eyelid droop on either side after surgery. In the blepharoplasty with ADM graft group, the eyelid droop decreased significantly after surgery on the right side but showed no significant change on the left side. There was no significant change in enophthalmos after surgery for either group.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated that ADM graft provided effective support for maintaining the replaced orbital fat in lower blepharoplasty. In the long-term, blepharoplasty with ADM graft might be effective in slowing development of age-related enophthalmos.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Does Double-Eyelid Blepharoplasty Improve Forehead Wrinkles? A Prospective Study Using FACE-Q Scale and Anthropometric Measurements

BACKGROUND

Single eyelids are common among Asians. It is not uncommon to see people with single eyelids raise their eyebrows to wide open their eyes. This results in frequent compensatory contraction of the frontalis muscle and thus leads to deep forehead wrinkles. Double-eyelid blepharoplasty creates a larger visual field. In theory, patients who receive the surgery will stop overusing the frontalis muscle. Therefore, the forehead wrinkles can be improved.

METHODS

35 patients who underwent double-eyelid blepharoplasty were enrolled. FACE-Q forehead wrinkle assessment scale was adopted to evaluate the forehead wrinkles preoperatively and postoperatively. In addition, anthropometric measurements were taken to indirectly evaluate frontalis muscle contraction in maximum eye-opening position.

RESULTS

According to the FACE-Q scale, forehead wrinkles were improved after double-eyelid blepharoplasty, and the improvement was long-lasting in the 3-month follow-up. This was because the frontalis muscle contraction reduced after the surgery, as shown by the anthropometric measurements.

CONCLUSION

This study used subjective and objective methods to prove that double-eyelid surgery improves forehead wrinkles.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Virtual Reality Hemifield Measurements for Corrective Surgery Eligibility in Ptosis Patients: A Pilot Clinical Trial

Purpose

We developed an accelerated virtual reality (VR) suprathreshold hemifield perimetry algorithm, the median cut hemifield test (MCHT). This study examines the ability of the MCHT to determine ptosis severity and its reversibility with an artificial improvement by eyelid taping on an HTC Vive Pro Eye VR headset and the Humphrey visual field analyzer (HVFA) to assess the capabilities of emerging technologies in evaluating ptosis.

Methods

In a single visit, the MCHT was administered along with the HVFA 30-2 on ptotic untaped and taped eyelids in a randomized order. The primary end points were a superior field visibility comparison with severity of VF loss and VF improvement after taping for MCHT and HVFA. Secondary end points included evaluating patients' Likert-scaled survey responses on the comfort, speed, and overall experience with both testing modalities.

Results

VR's MCHT superior field degrees visible correlated well for severe category margin to reflex distance (r = 0.78) compared with HVFA's (r = -0.21). The MCHT also demonstrated noninferiority (83.3% agreement; P = 1) against HVFA for detection of 30% or more superior visual field improvement after taping, warranting a corrective surgical intervention. In comparing hemi-VF in untaped eyes, both tests demonstrated relative obstruction to the field when comparing normal controls to severe ptosis (HVFA P < 0.05; MCHT P < 0.001), which proved sufficient to demonstrate percent improvement with taping. The secondary end point of patient satisfaction favored VR vision testing presentation mode in terms of comfort (P < 0.01), speed (P < 0.001), and overall experience (P < 0.01).

Conclusions

This pilot trial supports the use of MCHT for the quantitative measurement of visual field loss owing to ptosis and the reversibility of ptosis that is tested when conducting a presurgical evaluation. We believe the adoption of MCHT testing in oculoplastic clinics could decrease patient burden and accelerate time to corrective treatment.

Translational Relevance

In this study, we look at vision field outputs in patients with ptosis to evaluate its severity and improvement with eyelid taping on a low-profile VR-based technology and compare it with HVFA. Our results demonstrate that alternative, portable technologies such as VR can be used to grade the degree of ptosis and determine whether ptosis surgery could provide a significant superior visual field improvement of 30% or more, all while ensuring a more comfortable experience and faster testing time.