Effect of upper eyelid blepharoplasty on the ocular surface, tear film, and corneal microstructure.

[PURPOSE] This study aimed to investigate the effect of upper eyelid blepharoplasty with the removal of the skin and a strip of orbicularis oculi muscle on the ocular surface, tear film, and dry eye-related symptoms.

[METHODS] Twenty-two eyes of 22 consecutive patients operated by a single surgeon (21 females; mean age, 61 years; age range, 41-75 years) were included. All subjects completed the Ocular Surface Disease Index questionnaire, underwent in vivo confocal microscopy, tear film breakup time measurements, the Schirmer test with anesthesia, and fluorescein and lissamine green staining measurements before, 1 month, and 6 months after upper blepharoplasty alone with preseptal orbicularis excision.

[RESULTS] A significant increase in Ocular Surface Disease Index, and corneal fluorescein and lissamine green staining and a significant decrease in tear film breakup time were observed after 1 month (p=0.003, p=0.004, p=0.029, and p=0.024 respectively) and 6 months (p=0.001 for all findings). No significant difference in the Schirmer test score was observed during the follow-up. None of the in vivo confocal microscopy parameters showed significant changes during the study.

[CONCLUSIONS] An increase in dry eye symptoms and a decrease in tear film stability along with ocular surface staining were observed in patients undergoing upper eyelid blepharoplasty.