Original article
External Levator Advancement vs Müller’s Muscle–Conjunctival Resection for Correction of Upper Eyelid Involutional Ptosis

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajo.2005.03.033Get rights and content

Purpose

To compare external levator advancement and Müller’s muscle–conjunctival resection (conjunctivomullerectomy, or CJM) for correction of upper eyelid involutional ptosis.

Design

Retrospective, nonrandomized, comparative interventional case series.

Methods

Review of medical records of 159 patients (272 surgical procedures) who underwent external levator advancement or CJM was performed. main outcome measures: Functional and cosmetic outcome, marginal reflex distance one (MRD1), and surgical complications.

Results

A total of 159 patients (51 men, 108 women, mean age 70 years) underwent 272 surgical procedures for upper eyelid ptosis; concurrent blepharoplasty was performed in 141 cases. MRD1 increased an average of 1.6 (±1.5) mm, from 0.8 mm (±1.2) preoperatively to 2.3 mm (±1.2) postoperatively (P < .001). Fifteen patients (5.5%) underwent reoperation for residual ptosis, nine (18%) in the external levator advancement group, two (3%) in the CJM group, three (8%) in the external plus blepharoplasty group, and one (1%) in the CJM plus blepharoplasty group (P < .001). Patients who underwent external levator advancement had significantly more severe ptosis preoperatively but attained similar eyelid position postoperatively as compared with CJM patients. Complications included overcorrection in four cases (1.4%), lagophthalmos of 1 mm in 10 (3.6%), and pyogenic granuloma in two (<1%).

Conclusions

External levator advancement and CJM performed alone or with concurrent blepharoplasty are effective treatments for upper eyelid ptosis. Residual ptosis or postoperative eyelid retraction occurs in up to 20% of cases and can be addressed successfully with a second operation.

Section snippets

Methods

A retrospective review of medical records of all patients who underwent surgery for upper eyelid involutional ptosis either with or without blepharoplasty between January 1999 and December 2003 was performed. The data retrieved included age, gender, type of surgery, preoperative and postoperative digital photographs, visual acuity, marginal reflex distance one (MRD1; represents the distant between the inferior margin of the upper eyelid and the pupillary light reflex in primary position of

Results

One hundred and fifty-nine patients (51 men, 108 women, mean age 70 years) underwent 272 surgical procedures for upper eyelid ptosis. One hundred forty-one eyelids underwent concurrent blepharoplasty. Bilateral surgery was performed in 113 patients (71%). External levator advancement was performed in 88 eyelids and CJM in 184 eyelids. Demographics of the study population are summarized in Table 1.

MRD1 increased an average of 1.6 mm (±1.5), from 0.8 mm (±1.2, range 0.5 to 3.0) preoperatively to

Discussion

This study supports previous reports that external levator advancement and Müller’s muscle–conjunctival resection performed alone or with concurrent blepharoplasty are both effective in correction of involutional upper eyelid ptosis.7, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 Reoperation rate for residual ptosis is low in CJM (<3%) and can be as high as 17% in external ptosis repair. Overcorrection and eyelid retraction is not common (1.4%) but may be more prevalent in CJM. Cosmetic outcome, based on

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      MRD1 is typically in the range of 0 to 3 mm with good levator function (>12 mm excursion). In such cases, we consider MMCR to be a good first choice for surgery because it is more predictable, provides better cosmetic outcome in terms of eyelid contour and symmetry, has a lower rate of reoperation for undercorrection or overcorrection, and very rarely leads to lagophthalmos and/or eyelid retraction above the limbus.56,86 Furthermore, should a second surgery be required, it is less complicated to perform this surgery (ie, MMCR, tarsectomy, or ELR), due to less scarring and disruption of tissue planes in the eyelid.

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