What causes increased contrast sensitivity and improved functional visual acuity after upper eyelid blepharoplasty?

PURPOSE

The objective of this study was to report the cause of increased contrast sensitivity and improved functional visual acuity after upper eyelid blepharoplasty.

METHODS

Twenty-two eyelids of 16 patients with dermatochalasis and involutional ptosis were prospectively studied. Contrast sensitivity, corneal topography, high-order aberration (HOA), and degree of lash ptosis were examined and recorded before and at 1 month after upper eyelid blepharoplasty. A Wilcoxon signed rank test was performed to compare the difference.

RESULTS

The contrast sensitivity of patients significantly increased in every spatial frequency and light condition. Corneal topography showed no difference before and after blepharoplasty. Ocular HOA, especially total HOA, third-order, fourth-order, trefoil, coma, and second astigmatism decreased significantly after surgery (P = 0.008, 0.011, 0.028, 0.033, 0.038, and 0.049, respectively). The degree of lash ptosis also decreased after blepharoplasty (P = 0.046).

CONCLUSIONS

In our study, increased contrast sensitivity and improved functional visual acuity after upper eyelid blepharoplasty were caused by changes in ocular HOA and the degree of lash ptosis after surgery. There were no changes in corneal topography or astigmatism.