Expanding Role of Orbital Decompression in Aesthetic Surgery.

BACKGROUND

Eye prominence is a source of cosmetic "deformity" for many patients not afflicted by Graves.

OBJECTIVES

To report our experience in using customized orbital decompression for purely aesthetic reason to reduce eye prominence in non-thyroid patients.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of patients undergoing cosmetic orbital decompression by one surgeon. Surgical technique included customized graded orbital bony-wall decompression (lateral-wall, basin, medial-wall, posterior-strut) and intraconal fat removal using eyelid crease and/or caruncle incisions. Inclusion criteria included any patient with relative prominent eye due to non-thyroid etiology. Preoperative and postoperative photographs at longest follow-up were used for analysis. Outcome measures included patient satisfaction (via a written questionnaire) and complication rates.

RESULTS

Etiologies of prominent eyes included congenital shallow orbits (14), congenital hypoplasia of malar-eminence (5), enlarged globe from high myopia (5), buphthalmos (1), and relative proptosis from contralateral enophthalmos (1). Concurrent procedures included lower eyelid-retractors lysis (5), periocular fat injection (3), tear-trough implant (3), canthoplasty (3), and periocular filler injection (3). Mean patient age was 33.8 years (range, 19-60 years). The average follow-up was 9 months (range, 6 months-4 years). All 26 patients (11 males, 15 females) had reduction in globe prominence. The mean reduction in axial globe position was 3.1 mm (range, 1.5-6.2 mm). Twenty-four of 26 patients were satisfied with the surgical outcome, with 2 patients complaining of sunken eyes. No case of permanent diplopia occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

Orbital decompression may be done for cosmetic purpose, effectively and safely, to reduce eye prominence in non-thyroid patients by an experienced orbital surgeon.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.