Direct tarsus to frontalis muscle sling without flap creation for correction of blepharoptosis with poor levator function.

Purpose: To report the outcomes of ptosis surgery in patients with weak levator function utilizing the direct tarsus to frontalis muscle sling technique without creation of a flap.

Methods: In a prospective nonrandomized case series over a 3-year period, patients with ptosis and weak (less than 4 mm) levator function underwent direct sling of the tarsus to frontalis muscle without creating any flap. Success was defined as upper lid margin to central corneal reflex distance of at least 3 mm in bilateral cases and a difference of less than 1 mm in unilateral cases.

Results: Overall, 26 eyes of 22 patients with mean age of 15.4 ± 9.4 years were operated and followed up for 13.5 ± 8.4 months. The ptosis was congenital in 15 patients (68.2%) and acquired in 7 patients (31.8%). Twelve patients (54.5%) had a history of ptosis surgery. The procedure was judged as successful in 77.3% of patients after initial surgery and in 100% after reoperation. Surgical success after initial surgery was directly correlated with the amount of levator function (P = 0.02). However, success was not associated with age (P = 0.9) or history of surgery (P = 0.9). None of the patients developed eyelid hematoma, lagophthalmus or dry eye.

Conclusions: Direct sling of the upper tarsus to the frontalis muscle without creation of flap is an effective procedure for correction of ptosis in patients with weak levator function. Minimal dissection and preservation of the orbicularis oculi prevents lagophthalmus and its consequences.