• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.446-451
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• 2023

Background Elderly patients often have complications of blepharoptosis surgery that can result in the appearance or exacerbation of superficial punctate keratopathy (SPK). However, postoperative changes to SPK status have not been previously reported. We used subjective assessment of symptoms and measurement of SPK scale classification to investigate the safety and efficacy of blepharoptosis surgery in elderly patients. Methods Included in this prospective study were 22 patients (44 eyes) with bilateral blepharoptosis that underwent surgery. Patients comprised 8 males and 14 females with a mean (±standard deviation) age of 75.7 ± 8.2 years (range: 61-89). Blepharoptosis surgery consisted of transcutaneous levator advancement and blepharoplasty including resection of soft tissue (skin, subcutaneous tissue, and the orbicularis oculi muscle). Margin reflex distance-1 (MRD-1) measurement, a questionnaire survey of symptoms and SPK scale classification, was administered preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively for evaluation. Results The median MRD-1 was 1 mm preoperatively and 2.5 mm postoperatively, representing a significant postoperative improvement. SPK area and density scores were found to increase when the MRD-1 increase was more than 2.5 mm with surgery. All 10 items on the questionnaire tended have increased scores after surgery, and significant differences were observed in 7 items (poor visibility, ocular fatigue, heavy eyelid, foreign body sensation, difficulty in focusing, headaches, and stiff shoulders). Conclusion Blepharoptosis surgery was found to be a safe and effective way to maintain the increase in MRD-1 within 2.0 mm. Despite the benefits, surgeons must nonetheless be aware that blepharoptosis surgery is a delicate procedure in elderly people.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.521-524
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• 2006

Purpose: The history of biometry dates back to ancient Greek. The ideal body ratio from biometry is used as a guideline in many works of art. Biometry is also used as a medical standard to determine normal or abnormal. Since the biometry of face is so complicated, many surgeons tend to regard preoperative evaluation as a bother and substitute medical records with some photographs. We introduce a new method to measure $MRD_1$ and levator function using digital photographs, which becomes widely used lately. Methods: $MRD_1$ can be measured with the primary-gaze-view photo which is magnified by PhotoshopR 7.0.1. The distance from coneal reflex of ring flash to upper eyelid margin is converted to mm-unit using the piece of ruler attached on the patient's face. Levator function can be measured with up-gaze-view photo and down-gaze-view photo which are superimposed on another. The excursion distance of upper eyelid margin (a) and the excursion distance of eyebrow (b) are measured respectively. The levator function can be assessed through subtraction of two values (a-b). This method is simple and precise and can be applied directly to patient without photos. Results: Using magnified digital photos and computer, this method can reduce personal error and instrumental error. Taking some digital photos doesn't take long time, so it can reduce the effort of preoperative evaluation and discomfort of patients. Conclusion: Digital photo-biometry is useful for retrospective study. Especially reducing personal error, it is useful when the number of specimens is huge. New levator function test is much more useful for Asian-specific eyes than Berke's method allowing frontalis muscle compensation.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.19-24
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• 2022

Background Blepharoplasty has both aesthetic and functional benefits in patients with pseudoptosis; however, previous studies could not demonstrate its beneficial effects quantitatively and objectively. The authors objectively analyzed the visual field before and after surgery and investigated whether measurements of the visual field can be applied as a suitable predictor of surgical outcomes. Methods In total, 18 eyelids in nine patients with pseudoptosis who had undergone simple skin excision blepharoplasty were evaluated prospectively from February to May 2016. The visual fields were analyzed preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively using the Goldmann kinetic perimetry test. The visual field test area was assessed using Adobe Photoshop. Results Blepharoplasty had an average 4.99-fold beneficial effect on the superior visual field. In particular, more improvement was seen in the superior temporal quadrant than in the nasal quadrant. No correlation was found between the preoperative margin-to-reflex distance 1 (MRD1) and the surgical outcome (P=0.119). However, there was a strong correlation between the preoperative superior visual field and the surgical outcome (P=0.001). Conclusions Using the Goldmann kinetic perimetry test, we objectively and quantitatively proved the beneficial effect of blepharoplasty on patients with pseudoptosis. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the preoperative visual field is a better preoperative surgical outcome predictive factor than the preoperative MRD1.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.165-170
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• 2018

Background To present the outcomes of the tarsal switch procedure using an anterior approach to correct severe ptosis with poor levator muscle function (<4 mm) with absent or poor Bell's phenomenon. Methods This retrospective case series included 11 patients with severe neurogenic or acquired myogenic palpebral ptosis. All patients underwent the tarsal switch procedure through an anterior approach from 2012 to 2015. Margin reflex distance (MRD1 and MRD2) and the palpebral fissure were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively. Data were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. P-values <0.05 were considered to indicate statistical significance. Results Surgery was performed on 18 eyelids (11 patients). The median age at surgery was 57 years (range, 29-86 years). Four patients had unilateral ptosis and seven had bilateral ptosis. Nine patients had myogenic ptosis and two had neurogenic ptosis. Postoperatively, the chin-up position improved in all patients. The MRD1 increased statistically significantly, from 0 mm preoperatively to 1.0 mm postoperatively (P=0.001). The MRD2 decreased statistically significantly, from 4.5 mm preoperatively to 3.0 mm postoperatively (P=0.001). The palpebral fissure did not change (4.0 mm preoperatively to 4.0 mm postoperatively) (P=0.13). Conclusions The tarsal switch procedure through an anterior approach is an effective alternative for correcting severe ptosis, especially neurogenic or acquired myogenic ptosis. This procedure can be performed with minimal risk of ocular surface exposure and provides stable outcomes.