Clinical Efficacy of Blepharotomy for Upper Eyelid Retraction Associated with Thyroid Eye Disease

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical efficacy of blepharotomy to treat upper eyelid retraction associated with thyroid eye disease. METHODS: A retrospective survey was performed with 9 eyes of 7 thyroid ophthalmopathy patients, who visited Korea University Medical Center from August 2009 to February 2011, and had undergone blepharotomy. The sex, age, change of upper eyelid retraction, postoperative complication, follow-up periods, and the surgical results were reviewed. To assess the efficacy of blepharotomy more objectively, the preoperative and postoperative pictures of patients were taken and the following lid parameters measured: marginal reflex distance 1, interpalpebral fissure height, total palpebral fissure area, upper nasal palpebral fissure area, and upper temporal palpebral fissure area. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 37.4 years and mean follow-up period was 12.8 months. Five patients had undergone surgery unilaterally and 2 patients, bilaterally. Seven eyes of 6 patients had undergone full thickness blepharotomy and 2 eyes of 1 patient had undergone graded blepharotomy. According to the 3-month preoperative and postoperative picture analysis, all lid parameters improved significantly after blepharotomy (2.03 mm, 1.95 mm, 24.28 mm2, 12.98 mm2, and 16.21 mm2, respectively). Complications associated with blepharotomy included multiple and high folds in 2 eyes of 2 patients who had undergone full thickness blepharotomy. Re-operation was performed on only 1 eye and the result was satisfactory. CONCLUSIONS: Blepharotomy for upper eyelid retraction is a safe and highly effective surgery for upper eyelid retraction associated with symptomatic thyroid eye disease. This technique achieves excellent functional and cosmetic outcomes.

Significant Intraocular Sequelae in Orbital Blunt Trauma and Their Association with Blowout Fracture

PURPOSE: To investigate the frequency of significant intraocular sequelae (SIOS) in orbital blunt trauma and their association with blowout and facial bone fractures. METHODS: A retrospective survey consisting of 726 patients with orbital blunt trauma who visited Korea University Medical Center was performed. Patients were divided into three groups: blowout fracture only group (group 1), facial bone fracture group (nasal bone fracture, maxillary fracture, zygoma fracture without blowout fracture, group 2), and non-fracture group (group 3). SIOS (traumatic iridocyclitis, commotio retina, hyphema, retinal hemorrhage, eyeball rupture, vitreous hemorrhage, retinal detachment, lens dislocation, traumatic cataract) were surveyed in each group, and the association between the frequency of SIOS and the presence of blowout fracture or facial bone fracture was analyzed. RESULTS: The frequency of SIOS in the fracture groups was 83.8% in group 1 and 73.3% in group 2, which were both higher than the 67.9% in group 3, the non-fracture group (p = 0.000 by chi-square linear by linear association). Traumatic iridocyclitis and hyphema were also significantly higher in groups 1 and 2 than group 3 (p = 0.003, p = 0.008 by chi-square linear by linear association). CONCLUSIONS: SIOS was found significantly more often in the fracture group than the group without fracture, although the frequency of severe SIOS was lower in the fracture group than the non-fracture group. The results from the present study could help in the treatment and management of patients with orbital blunt trauma.