Long-term changes in contrast-sensitivity, corneal topography and higher-order aberrations after upper eyelid blepharoplasty: A prospective interventional study.

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to analyze the long-term changes in visual parameters, that is, contrast sensitivity (CS) and higher-order aberrations (HOAs), and corneal topography in the patients undergoing upper eyelid blepharoplasty (UEB) for dermatochalasis.

METHODS

This was a prospective, single surgeon, intervention study including patients (≥40 years age) having severe dermatochalasis with a minimum post-UEB follow-up of 12 months. The preoperative readings of CS (using Pelli-Robson chart), HOAs (using WaveLight ALLEGRO analyzer), and corneal topography (using topographic modeling system-4, Tomey corporation) were noted and compared at 3, 6, and 12 postoperative months.

RESULTS

We studied 30 patients (60 eyes) who underwent bilateral UEB. The majority of patients were females (n = 21,70%), and the mean age of patients was 56.53 ± 9.06 years. The preoperative and postoperative values of LogMAR visual acuity, log CS value, corneal topography measurements (K1, K2, cylinder value, and the axis), optical aberrations (total HOAs; third-order--trefoil & coma; four-order--spherical aberrations and secondary astigmatism, and tetrafoil) were compared. At 12 months, the mean CS value, the majority of HOAs, and corneal topography (only cylinder values) showed a stable, statistically significant difference in the postoperative period.

CONCLUSION

The UEB may produce long-term, visually-beneficial, optical, and corneal changes. The patients undergoing cataract surgery aiming for spectacle independence may gain additional visual benefits with UEB.