Contour Symmetry of the Upper Eyelid Following Bilateral Conjunctival-Müller's Muscle Resection.

BACKGROUND

Conjunctiva-Müller muscle resection (CMMR) is a simple, effective, and predictable procedure for internal treatment of ptosis.

OBJECTIVES

The authors determined contour symmetry of the upper eyelid following bilateral CMMR.

METHODS

Thirty control participants (ie, without ptosis) and 44 patients with acquired bilateral blepharoptosis who underwent CMMR were evaluated in a prospective study. To assess symmetry of lid contour, distances from midpupil to the upper eyelid (ie, MPLDs) were determined radially at intervals of 15° (total, 180°) along the palpebral fissure, and MPLDs at each angle were compared for right and left eyes.

RESULTS

For control participants, the mean marginal reflex distance (MRD1; ie, MPLD at 90°) ± standard error (SE) was 4.05 mm ± 0.75 mm, and small contour asymmetries (<10%) were measured for all angles. Medial (9.4% ± 4.7%) and lateral (8.1% ± 4.9 %) asymmetries were not significantly different for these participants. For patients with ptosis, the mean preoperative MRD1 was 2.56 ± 0.1 mm, and mean medial and lateral lid asymmetries (14.3% ± 8.4% and 16.7% ± 9.7%, respectively) were significantly higher than those of controls. Medial and lateral asymmetries correlated significantly with the extent of ptosis and were more pronounced laterally than medially. One month after CMMR, the lateral-medial discrepancy in lid asymmetry was resolved, and mean medial and lateral MPLDs (9.9% ± 7.5% and 8.5% ± 5.3%, respectively) were similar to those of controls.

CONCLUSIONS

For patients with involutional ptosis, CMMR enables elevation of the lid margin and correction of contour anomalies.