The significance of intraoperative measurements in acquired ptosis surgery.

During a series of 101 levator procedures to correct acquired ptosis we measured the motility of the aponeurosis, the necessary advancement of the aponeurosis to adjust the eyelid height and the motility of Whitnall's ligament. We compared these intraoperative data with the data of the preoperative examination and did not find any correlation. The necessary amount of advancement of the aponeurosis to adjust the height of the eyelid was not related to the motility of the aponeurosis, the levator function or the amount of ptosis. However, we did find that the motility of Whitnall's ligament is closely related to the motility of the aponeurosis. Therefore connecting both structures is useful in ptosis adjustment without risking limited eyelid motility.