The Effects of Lower Lid Laxity to the Response of Dry Eye Treatments

PURPOSE: To compare the response of dry eye treatment in patients divided by the degree of lower lid laxity. METHODS: Thirty patients were classified into three groups - normal, moderate and severe, according to the degree of lower lid laxity. Tear break-up time (TBUT), Schirmer test (ST), ocular surface disease index (OSDI) scores and changes in OSDI score in each group were compared before and at 3 months after the treatment. RESULTS: TBUT, ST and OSDI scores were not different among the three groups at baseline. TBUT improved to 6.60 +/- 1.43, 6.0 +/- 2.54 and 6.0 +/- 1.45 sec in normal, moderate and severe lower lid laxity group, respectively at 3 months after the treatment and no difference among the groups was found. ST scores did not increase after the treatment, while OSDI scores improved to 12.20 +/- 1.40, 16.10 +/- 4.63 and 20.80 +/- 4.52 in each group, respectively and they were significantly different (p = 0.029, 0.029, <0.001, respectively). The response to the dry eye treatment as assessed by changes in OSDI scores was poorer in patients in the severe lower lid laxity group (p = 0.019 vs. moderate laxity group, <0.01 vs. normal group). CONCLUSIONS: As the degree of lower lid laxity increases, the response to dry eye treatment becomes poorer even when TBUT increases.

The Usability of Infraorbital Approach on the Patients with Orbito-Zygomatic Fracture

PURPOSE: There are various approaches for open reduction surgery for orbitozygomatic fractures. After the incisions are performed, patients might have various complications. In this point of view, we conducted a retrospective study of the usability of infraorbital incision on elderly patients, generally more vulnerable to scleral show and ectropion. METHODS: In this study, 20 patients who are relatively more vulnerable to scleral show and ectropion through snap-back test having infraorbital incision were reviewed. We monitored the duration of the surgery, and complications resulted from the incision. We evaluated the scars with the researcher's observations and with the patient's level of satisfaction on a scale of 1 to 5. RESULTS: On average, 5 minutes was spent between the skin incision and the fracture exposure. No case of scleral show and ectropion occurred. One year follow-up observation revealed 4 cases of visible scars, 9 cases of barely visible scars, and 7 cases of invisible scars. The subjective satisfaction level of the patients' scar is an average of 4.0. CONCLUSION: Infraorbital incision has many advantages. First, it can reduce the complications such as scleral show and ectropion. Second, it can shorten the operation time. Third, it can diminish incision-related scars.