Maximal Levator Muscle Resection for Primary Congenital Blepharoptosis with Poor Levator Function.

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of maximal levator muscle resection surgery in patients with poor levator function.

Methods: This prospective study included 29 eyelids of 23 patients who underwent maximal levator resection surgery. Pre- and postoperatively, all patients' routine ophthalmic examination including evaluation of upper eyelid skin crease positions; levator muscle function (LF), rima palpebrarum (RP), and margin-reflex distance (MRD) measurements were recorded. Outcome was considered successful when the difference between the two upper eyelids was ≤1 mm; if the difference between the two eyelid margins was more than 1 mm and less than 2 mm, it was considered to be satisfactory. More than 2 mm difference was considered to be poor.

Results: Mean patient age was 11.3 ± 8.6 years (3 months to 24 years). Mean follow-up time was 22.8 ± 6.9 months (10 to 36 months). Preoperatively mean RP, MRD, and LF measurements were 5.5 ± 1.7 mm, -0.14 ± 1.6 mm, 2.5 ± 1.4 mm (0-4 mm), respectively. Preoperatively, eight (27,6%) patients had skin crease. Abnormal head posture was detected in eight (34.8%) of the patients. Postoperatively, RP, MRD, and LF values increased significantly (p < 0.05). Mean RP, MRD, and LF measurements were 8.3 ± 1.5 mm, 2.6 ± 1.2 mm, 5.1 ± 2.1 mm, respectively. Fourteen subjects (60.9%) had successful results, two subjects (8.7%) had satisfactory results, and seven subjects (30.4%) had poor results. Abnormal head postures of all patients were resolved.

Conclusions: Maximal levator resection may be a good alternative method to frontalis suspension in congenital blepharoptosis patients with poor levator function.