Surgical techniques for the treatment of conjunctivochalasis: paste-pinch-cut conjunctivoplasty versus thermal cautery conjunctivoplasty.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of paste-pinch-cut conjunctivoplasty and cautery conjunctivoplasty for the treatment of symptomatic conjunctivochalasis.

DESIGN

This was a prospective cohort study.

PARTICIPANTS

Sixteen patients (32 eyes) with bilateral conjunctivochalasis that was symptomatic after medical therapy were enrolled in the study.

METHODS

This was a single-centre, contralateral eye, prospective study. Paste-pinch-cut conjunctivoplasty was performed in the left eye, and thermal cautery conjunctivoplasty was performed in the right eye. The outcomes of each procedure were compared preoperatively and at the 1-month follow-up by using the Canadian Dry Eye Assessment (CDEA) scoring system, standard conjunctivochalasis grading, and corneal staining. Intraoperative discomfort and immediate postoperative discomfort were assessed by using a 10-point scale.

RESULTS

The mean age of patients was 72.4 ± 8.67 years. Conjunctival redundancy was absent in 14 of 16 patients postoperatively. The mean CDEA score improved after both procedures (7.1 ± 2.8 preoperatively versus 4.5 ± 0.78 at the 1-month follow-up for cautery conjunctivoplasty, 7.4 ± 2.5 versus 4.9 ± 3.1 for paste-pinch-cut conjunctivoplasty). This improvement was statistically significant in the cautery conjunctivoplasty group (p = 0.012). Mean intraoperative discomfort was 2.6 ± 2.1 with the use of paste-pinch-cut conjunctivoplasty and 3.5 ± 3.2 with the use of cautery conjunctivoplasty; however, the difference was not statistically significant. No intraoperative or postoperative complications were observed with either technique.

CONCLUSIONS

Paste-pinch-cut and thermal cautery conjunctivoplasty are both safe and effective surgical treatments for the repair of conjunctivochalasis, with patients reporting greater improvement in symptoms after the cautery technique.