Use of isobutyl cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive to stabilize external eyelid weights in temporary treatment of facial palsies.

PURPOSE: To describe a technique for stabilizing external eyelid load weights with isobutyl cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive for the temporary treatment of facial palsies. METHODS: This was a nonrandomized, prospective study of six consecutive patients with unilateral facial paralysis treated with external eyelid load weights stabilized with isobutyl cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive instead of adhesive tape. Follow-up assessment included corneal exposure, patient comfort, amount of artificial tear usage, and complications associated with the weights. RESULTS: Of the six patients studied, five had decreased corneal exposure, decreased artificial tear usage, and increased patient comfort with use of the weights. One patient had no improvement of symptoms. Weights were retained for a mean of 10.7 days. Two patients had difficulty with the weights; one was secondary to dermatochalasis and blepharoptosis obscuring his vision, and the other patient's weight fell off after 1 day. No weights were lost. CONCLUSIONS: The use of isobutyl cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive is a simple, quick, and inexpensive method for placement of external eyelid weights for temporary treatment of ocular exposure associated with facial paralysis and for determining the correct weight for implantation. Furthermore, isobutyl cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive used to stabilize external eyelid weights is better tolerated and lasts longer than the previously described fixation method with adhesive tape.

Lower eyelid CO(2) laser rejuvenation: a randomized, prospective clinical study.

PURPOSE: The effect of transconjunctival blepharoplasty alone compared with transconjunctival blepharoplasty and CO(2) laser skin resurfacing on lower lid bulging and wrinkles was examined. DESIGN: Randomized clinical trial. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-four subjects, including 13 men and 31 women. METHODS: Subjects were prospectively randomly assigned into two groups: (1) transconjunctival blepharoplasty with immediate CO(2) laser resurfacing or (2) transconjunctival blepharoplasty with CO(2) laser resurfacing 2 months later. Standardized photographs were taken before and 2 months after each procedure. A trained, masked observer graded the photographs. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Bulging and wrinkles of the medial, central, and lateral portions of the lower lid were scored and compared at specified end points. RESULTS: Transconjunctival blepharoplasty alone resulted in an improvement in lower lid bulging in 92% of subjects, whereas lower lid wrinkling worsened in 46%. When transconjunctival blepharoplasty was performed with simultaneous CO(2) laser resurfacing, or with CO(2) laser resurfacing 2 months later, a statistically significant improvement in wrinkles occurred (chi square = 20.625; P < 0.0005). The timing of the procedures had no statistically significant effect on final outcome. No subject had lower lid retraction develop. CONCLUSIONS: Transconjunctival blepharoplasty and adjunctive CO(2) laser resurfacing represents an excellent alternative to transcutaneous lower blepharoplasty. The procedure addresses lower lid wrinkles, skin redundancy, and fat herniation without a scar and with little risk of lower lid retraction.

Upper eyelid gold weight implantation in the Asian patient with facial paralysis.

Patients with facial paralysis may develop ophthalmic complications. Poor eyelid closure and lagophthalmos place the patient at increased risk for the development of corneal problems such as epithelial defects, stromal thinning, bacterial infection, and even perforation. Initial treatment should be conservative and include the use of ocular lubricants, moisture chambers, and taping of the lower eyelid into proper position. Surgical intervention may be required in patients who have failed medical therapy or in whom the facial paralysis is not expected to improve. Gold weight implantation in the upper eyelid has become a popular procedure to correct upper eyelid retraction and to improve corneal coverage. Previous descriptions of gold weight placement in the upper eyelid have focused on Caucasian eyelid anatomy. However, there are distinct anatomic differences between the Caucasian and Asian eyelids, which dictate the overlying aesthetic differences. We describe our technique for placement of a gold weight in the Asian upper lid, with attention to the maintenance of symmetric eyelid creases. We reviewed the charts of six Asian patients with facial paralysis who underwent gold weight placement in the upper eyelid for the correction of lid retraction. All patients did well functionally and aesthetically, and none developed an extrusion of the implant with this approach.

Involutional entropion and ectropion of the Asian lower eyelid.

PURPOSE: A clinical observation showed that involutional entropion of the lower eyelid in Asians may occur more commonly than ectropion. A review of surgical cases was performed to examine this hypothesis. METHODS: A retrospective review of the number of Asian lower lid involutional ectropion and entropion repairs was performed in three different clinical practice settings. These data were compared and statistically analyzed with similar data for non-Asian patients. RESULTS: The frequency of ectropion among Asians was significantly less than in non-Asians (chi-square, p < 0.001). Asian entropion repair represented 11.4% of the 604 eyelid operations performed on Asians, whereas Asian ectropion repair made up only 1.5% of cases. Non-Asian entropion and ectropion repairs were 3.7% and 6.2%, respectively, of the 1,849 eyelid procedures performed on non-Asians. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the normal anteriorly protruding position of the orbital fat within the Asian lower eyelid, Asians may be more predisposed than whites to the development of involutional entropion rather than ectropion. Removal of lower eyelid fat should be considered in entropion repair of the Asian lower eyelid.

Modified orbital decompression for dysthyroid orbitopathy.

PURPOSE: The transantral approach to orbital decompression remains useful for the management of exophthalmos associated with dysthyroid orbitopathy. However, the risk of postoperative diplopia is a concern. Preservation of the anterior periorbita may help support the orbital contents and decrease the incidence of diplopia. METHODS: The medical records were reviewed of 15 consecutive patients who underwent 30 transantral orbital decompressions for proptosis associated with dysthyroid orbitopathy. The procedures were completed in standard fashion, including removal of the inferomedial bony strut between the medial orbital wall and the floor. However, stripping of the periorbita was only done posteriorly; the anterior 10 to 15 mm of periorbita were left intact. RESULTS: Six patients had preoperative diplopia that persisted after decompression. Of the nine patients without diplopia preoperatively, none developed diplopia. Proptosis was reduced a mean of 3.5 +/- 2.6 mm. CONCLUSIONS: Preservation of the anterior periorbita during transantral orbital decompression reduces the risk of postoperative diplopia. An adequate reduction in proptosis is also achieved.

The treatment of traumatic optic neuropathy: the International Optic Nerve Trauma Study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the visual outcome of traumatic optic neuropathy treated with corticosteroids, treated with optic canal decompression surgery, or observed without treatment. DESIGN: Comparative nonrandomized interventional study with concurrent treatment groups. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 133 patients with traumatic optic neuropathy (127 unilateral and 6 bilateral) who had an initial visual assessment within 3 days of injury. At least 1 month of follow-up was required for inclusion in the primary analysis. INTERVENTIONS: On the basis of treatment received within 7 days of injury, patients with unilateral injuries were categorized as being in one of three treatment groups: untreated (n = 9), corticosteroid (n = 85), or optic canal decompression surgery (n = 33). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Visual acuity. RESULTS: Visual acuity increased by > or = 3 lines in 32% of the surgery group, 57% of the untreated group, and 52% of the steroid group (P = 0.22). The surgery group had more patients whose initial vision was no light perception. After adjustment for the baseline visual acuity, there were no significant differences between any of the treatment groups. There was no indication that the dosage or timing of corticosteroid treatment or the timing of surgery was associated with an increased probability of visual improvement. CONCLUSIONS: No clear benefit was found for either corticosteroid therapy or optic canal decompression surgery. The number of patients studied was sufficient to rule out major effects in the treatment groups, although clinically relevant effects in specific subgroups could have been missed. These results and the existing literature provide sufficient evidence to conclude that neither corticosteroids nor optic canal surgery should be considered the standard of care for patients with traumatic optic neuropathy. It is therefore clinically reasonable to decide to treat or not treat on an individual patient basis.

Exposure of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene-wrapped hydroxyapatite orbital implant: a report of two patients.

PURPOSE: Hydroxyapatite (HA) spheres used to replace volume after an enucleation are often wrapped with autologous tissue before orbital implantation. Man-made materials are less expensive and pose no risk for viral transmission. The use of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) to wrap HA spheres was evaluated. METHODS: The medical records of 2 consecutive patients who underwent uncomplicated implantation of an HA sphere wrapped in ePTFE were reviewed. RESULTS: An unusual reaction to the ePTFE material that was nonresponsive to topical or systemic antibiotic therapy developed in these 2 patients. Eventual wound erosion and bacterial infection of the implant necessitated its removal. CONCLUSIONS: Although well tolerated in other surgeries, ePTFE, when used to wrap HA spheres and placed into the orbit, may cause persistent conjunctival discharge, pyogenic granuloma formation, and eventual wound erosion. Therefore, the use of this material to wrap HA spheres is not recommended.

Role of local amphotericin B therapy for sino-orbital fungal infections.

PURPOSE: Sino-orbital fungal infections are serious complications of diabetes and immunosuppression. Standard treatments include surgical debridement of the involved tissues with possible orbital exenteration, intravenous antifungal therapy, and improvement of the host's immunocompetence and metabolic state, when possible. The role of conservative orbital debridement combined with local amphotericin B irrigations in the treatment of these patients was evaluated. METHODS: The records of seven consecutive patients with sino-orbital fungal infections, who were treated with limited surgical debridement and local and systemic amphotericin B therapy, were reviewed. The underlying disorders of these patients included acute lymphoblastic leukemia, immunosuppression after renal transplantation, diabetes mellitus, and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The fungal species identified included Rhizopus, Mucor, and Aspergillus. RESULTS: Follow-up ranged from 4 months to 4 years. All patients retained their preoperative visual acuities. Only one patient ultimately underwent an orbital exenteration for progressive orbital fungal infection. The remaining patients had either complete or incomplete (without further progression) resolution of their fungal infection. Two of the seven patients died of unrelated causes, and no patient died of uncontrolled fungal spread. CONCLUSIONS: Conservative orbital debridement with local amphotericin B irrigations is an effective adjunct in the control of sino-orbital fungal infections, especially in patients with reversible immunosuppression and good preoperative visual acuities.

Tarsal margin rotation with posterior lamella superadvancement for the management of cicatricial entropion of the upper eyelid.

PURPOSE: To report the efficacy of tarsal margin rotation with posterior lamella superadvancement in the management of cicatricial entropion of the upper eyelid. METHODS: In 15 consecutive patients, 22 eyelids with cicatricial entropion were managed with tarsal margin rotation and posterior lamella superadvancement. In a retrospective study, the technique and results were evaluated. RESULTS: In all 22 upper eyelids, the normal eyelashes rotated away from the surface of the eye. Mean follow-up was 12.9 +/- 12.4 months (range, 1 to 48 months). One eyelid developed buckling of the tarsus. Three eyelids needed electrolysis to treat isolated metaplastic cilia posterior to the normal lash line. CONCLUSIONS: Tarsal margin rotation with posterior lamella superadvancement appears to be effective in managing cicatricial entropion of the upper lid.

Surgical management of seventh nerve paralysis and floppy eyelid syndrome.

A seven-stage approach to the management of the paretic eyelid complex has been described. These stages include supportive care, planning and execution of general facial reanimation, lower eyelid and canthal resuspension or support, passive upper eyelid animation, dynamic lid animation, and soft tissue repositioning. A final stage, the epilogue, is described for the treatment of the synkinesis and hypertonicity that often develop. Recent developments in these areas are discussed. Floppy eyelid syndrome, first described by Culbertson and Ostler, is a syndrome of chronic papillary conjunctivitis in overweight patients with easily everted eyelids. The syndrome has now been associated with a variety of other conditions and findings. Surgical management with horizontal shortening of the floppy eyelids remains the mainstay of therapy.

The Asian lower eyelid: a comparative anatomic study using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging.

Asian upper and lower eyelids are typically characterized by a fuller appearance than the lids of whites. Inferior extension of preaponeurotic fat and brow fat into the Asian upper lid explain the upper lid fullness and its difference from the upper lid of whites. Analogous structures in the Asian lower lid may exist to explain its full appearance. High-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of 24 normal Asian and white lower lids was performed to evaluate differences in Asian and white lower lid anatomy. Magnetic resonance images revealed two major differences. First, the orbital fat projected further anteriorly with respect to the orbital rim in all Asian lower lids studied. No analogy with the upper lid exists for this difference. Second, the orbital fat extended further superiorly, to the inferior border of tarsus, in those Asian lower lids that did not have well defined creases. This was analogous to the preaponeurotic fat location of the Asian upper lid and different from the white lower lid. The suborbicularis oculi fat in the lower lid, the analogous structure of the brow fat pad in the upper lid, was not different in location in Asian and white lower lids. Therefore, the Asian lower lid appearance is explained by the difference in orbital fat location, which is only partly analogous to the anatomical differences between the Asian and white upper lids.

Intraocular coccidioidomycosis diagnosed by skin biopsy.

OBJECTIVE: To describe ocular findings in 2 patients with disseminated coccidioidomycosis diagnosed by skin biopsy. METHODS: The clinical and histopathologic findings of the 2 patients were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: One patient had a unilateral, granulomatous iridocyclitis with multiple iris nodules and a large vascularized anterior chamber mass, in the setting of pulmonary, cutaneous, and skeletal infection by Coccidioides immitis. The second patient developed papilledema and multifocal chorioretinitis accompanied by pulmonary, cutaneous, and meningeal C immitis infection. In each case, examination of the skin biopsy specimen revealed C immitis spherules. Treatments included local and systemic amphotericin B and oral fluconazole. CONCLUSIONS: Although rare, intraocular involvement can occur in the setting of disseminated coccidioidomycosis. A thorough systemic evaluation and biopsy of suspicious skin lesions can aid in the diagnosis.

Ocular opportunistic infection incidences among patients who are HIV positive compared to patients who are HIV negative.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to examine the incidence of ocular opportunistic infections among patients who are human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive compared to patients who are HIV negative. DESIGN: The study design was a retrospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: All patients were recruited from 1984 until 1995 at the San Francisco General Hospital. INTERVENTION: Incidences for numerous diagnoses were compared among the exposure group (HIV positive) and nonexposed control group (HIV negative). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The diagnoses studied were cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis, herpes zoster ophthalmicus, Pneumocystis carinii choroidopathy, herpes simplex keratitis, Toxoplasma retinitis, fungal retinitis, ocular syphilis, and ocular lymphoma. RESULTS: Among the HIV-positive pool, there were 1800 patient visits with a total of 5200 person-years of follow-up. Among the HIV-negative control pool, there were 48,200 patient visits with a total of 30,100 person-years of follow-up. Incidence rates were calculated using the product-limit method, and risk ratios were calculated using the Cox proportional hazards model. Incidence rate differences were calculated using the incidence density method. Among the outcomes studied, only CMV retinitis, herpes zoster ophthalmicus, and, to a lesser extent, Toxoplasma retinitis showed both an elevated risk ratio and rate difference among patients who were HIV positive compared to patients who were HIV negative. Of the other outcomes studied, either the risk ratio, rate difference, or both were similar among patients who were HIV positive compared to patients who were HIV negative. CONCLUSIONS: Not all ocular infections seen in patients who are HIV positive should be considered opportunistic, because many occur with similar incidence among patients who are HIV negative. The biologic reasons for this will require further study.

Herpes zoster ophthalmicus in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection.

PURPOSE: To investigate the ocular complications of herpes zoster ophthalmicus in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of 48 HIV-infected patients (48 eyes) treated at San Francisco General Hospital for herpes zoster ophthalmicus from December 1985 through March 1994. RESULTS: All patients were initially treated with either intravenous or oral acyclovir. The median CD4 lymphocyte count at diagnosis was 48 per mm3 (range, 2 to 490 per mm3). Fifteen patients (31%) had mild or no ocular involvement. Seventeen patients (35%) had stromal keratitis, mostly mild, and two (4)% developed chronic infectious pseudodendritic keratitis. Twenty-four study patients (50%) had iritis, but only three (6%) had elevations in intraocular pressure. Two patients (4%) developed postherpetic neuralgia, and two others (4%) had zoster-associated central nervous system disease. Only two patients (4%) developed necrotizing retinitis, both in the form of the progressive outer retinal necrosis syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: Excluding the patients with retinitis and central nervous system disease, the rate of sight-threatening complications in our series was lower than expected. Almost one third of study patients had no ocular complications or only mild surface epithelial disease. Although the relatively low incidence of sight-threatening disease in our study population may have been a consequence of aggressive management with acyclovir, chronic infectious pseudodendritic keratitis, retinitis, and central nervous system disease, complications of ophthalmic zoster whose pathogenesis is largely a consequence of active viral replication, were particularly devastating and difficult to manage.