ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To evaluate the factors that affect the eyelid height changes during the postoperative period in patients who underwent levator resection under local anesthesia. METHODS: Among the 242 patients that underwent levator resection under local anesthesia by the same surgeon between January on 1995 and December 2003, marginal reflex distance 1 (MRD1) measurements were performed using a caliper in 91 patients who were followed for more than 3 months. RESULTS: There were 36 males and 55 females, aged between 12 and 78 years (average of 33.6 years). The average follow-up period of the patients was 8.7 months (3 months ~ 58 months). During this period, 86 patients (94.5%) experienced satisfactory results. The average change in the MRD1 of the eyelids preoperatively, during the operation, and 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year postoperatively were 0.8 mm, 3.9 mm, 3.0 mm, 2.7 mm, 2.5 mm, 2.4 mm, and 2.2 mm, respectively. The MRD1 decreased 1.2 mm after 1 month and stabilized. When the levator function was greater than 8 mm, the height of the eyelids stabilized within 1 week. The worse the function of the levator palpebrae, such as in the case of congenital ptosis, the greater the correction was needed. CONCLUSIONS: Levator resection under local anesthesia is a preferable method in adjusting the height of the eyelids. In a patient with poor levator function, a greater amount of correction is needed to achieve a satisfactory eyelid height.