Purpose: To evaluate the use of Mersilene mesh as a brow suspensory material and to compare it clinically against autogenous fascia lata.
Methods: A prospective study was carried out in which 80 eyes of 56 patients with ptosis and absent, poor or abnormal levator function were operated on. The patients were divided into two groups. In 46 eyes of 32 patients Mersilene mesh was used and in 34 eyes of 24 patients autogenous fascia lata was used. The results were recorded and analysed.
Results: The age range for the Mersilene group was larger than for the fascia lata group and female patients preferred Mersilene over fascia lata. The improvement in lid height was significant in all cases in both groups. The complication rates were similar in the two groups and the mesh was well tolerated by the patients. No cases of infection, sling exposure or extrusion occurred with the use of Mersilene. Lid lag and lagophthalmos occurred as a complication of the procedure itself and not the type of the sling material. The mean follow-up period was 33.8 months for both groups.
Conclusion: We believe that Mersilene mesh is an effective alternative to autogenous fascia lata when the use of fascia lata is felt inappropriate.