Abstract
Purpose: :
To describe and present the results of a surgical technique in patients with floppy eyelid syndrome. This disease is based on upper eyelid tarsal laxity and incomplete eyelid closure during sleep (nocturnal lagophthalmos), blepharochalasis, upper eyelash ptosis, ocular surface disorders, chronic papillary conjunctivitis and a soft, rubbery, floppy, and easily everted upper eyelid.
Methods: :
2 patients with floppy eyelid syndrome were treated in both eyes with a bilateral full–thickness resection of a pentagon shaped strip of the upper eyelid. Histological studies showed papillary conjunctivitis with cistic degeneration and squamous metaplastic changes in meibomian glands and a loss of elastin in the tarsal tissue, which may contribute to the laxity of the tarsus in this disorder.
Results: :
There were no complications during and after surgery and the 2 patients had relief of symptoms and good cosmetic and functional results at follow up (13 and 16 months).
Conclusions: :
An appropriate diagnosis is necessary in floppy eyelid syndrome. This surgical technique is a safe and successful approach to this disease and showed stable long–term results.
Keywords: eyelid • conjunctivitis