Dry eye symptoms following blepharoptosis surgery in elderly (≥80 years old) vs. non-elderly patients

ABSTRACT

Background: This study aims to compare the prevalence of dry eye symptoms following blepharoptosis surgery and surgical outcomes in patients ≥80 years old when compared to younger, case-matched controls.

Methods: A retrospective chart review of 166 patients ≥80 years old who were post-blepharoptosis surgery for involutional ptosis was performed. A younger, case-matched control group of 169 patients ≥40 and ≤79 years old who had undergone the same operation within 12 months of each case was also reviewed.

Results: A total of 169 younger patients (mean age 67.4, SD 7.79) and 166 elderly patients (mean age 83.8, SD 3.37) were included in the study. No significant difference was found between the groups for new or worsened dry eye symptoms at the first or second postoperative visit (p = 0.54). The presence of preoperative dry eye symptoms had no relation to worsened symptoms by 6 months (p = 0.17). Preoperative margin reflex distance 1 (MRD1) was smaller for the 80+ group (p = 0.002). There was no significant difference in MRD1 post-op, MRD1 asymmetry post-op, or complication rate between the two groups (p-values >0.05).

Conclusion: Dry eye symptoms and adverse surgical outcomes were not found to be increased post-blepharoptosis surgery in the elderly population when compared to younger case-matched controls.

KEYWORDS:

• Blepharoptosis
• dry eye
• elderly
• ptosis

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Author contributions

All authors agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work. A Tooley, S Alniemi, A Hussain, D Hodge, and E. A. Bradley were involved in the conception and design, analysis and interpretation of the data, drafting and revision of the manuscript, and the final approval.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was funded by Research to Prevent Blindness (New York, NY). The funding organization had no role in the design or conduct of this research.