Objective: To develop guidelines for revision of ptosis surgery in the early postoperative period by establishing what percentage of eyelids after anterior levator advancement have reached their final height by the first postoperative week.
Design: Prospective noncomparative case series.
Participants: An analysis was performed on 164 eyelids in 97 patients with involutional aponeurotic ptosis.
Intervention: Anterior levator advancement was performed on each of these 164 eyelids. Exclusion criterion consisted of a history or evidence of neurologic or muscular disease, preceding trauma, an anophthalmic socket, or prior eyelid surgery.
Main outcome measures: The marginal reflex distance, eyelid excursion, and degree of swelling were recorded perioperatively; additionally, photographs were obtained before surgery and at 1 and 6 weeks after surgery.
Results: At 1 week after surgery, only 40% of eyelids had reached their final height; 52% continued to rise a mean of 1.1 mm. The percentage of eyelids continuing to rise after the first postoperative week varied with the amount of swelling present at 1 week, although a direct correlation did not exist (Pearson correlation, 0.22; P < 0.26). Although this increase ranged from 0.5 to 3.0 mm for 71% of eyelids, the subsequent increase was 1 mm or less. Maximal eyelid height was achieved almost universally by 6 weeks, after which 18% of eyelids subsequently dropped a mean of 0.8 mm.
Conclusions: Based on this study, the authors suggest revision at 1 week after anterior levator advancements in which minimal-to-moderate eyelid swelling exists for contour abnormalities, if the eyelid height is 0.5 mm or more above or more than 1.0 mm below the target height, or if asymmetry between the eyelids is 1.0 mm or more. The authors do not advise early revision for patients with excessive swelling still present 1 week after surgery.