Background: This study was undertaken to characterize the effects of upper eyelid
blepharoplasty on blink dynamics and to evaluate the hypothesis that changes in
blink dynamics following blepharoplasty are associated with postoperative dry eye. //
Methods: The voluntary blink of 14 eyes of 7 patients with dermatochalasis undergoing upper eyelid blepharoplasty was recorded with a high-speed camera preoperatively and 6–8 months postoperatively, alongside a group of 11 controls. The
images were analyzed for palpebral aperture, blink duration, and maximum velocity during opening and closing phases. Patients undergoing blepharoplasty were
assessed for dry eye symptoms pre- and postoperatively at 6–8 months using the
ocular surface disease index score. //
Results: Despite intraoperative orbicularis oculi resection, there was no significant
compromise of blink duration or maximum velocity of eyelid opening or closure
post-blepharoplasty. Postoperatively, patients had an increase in palpebral aperture
compared with both preoperatively (8.71 versus 7.85mm; P = 0.013) and control
groups (8.71 versus 7.87mm; P = 0.04). Postoperatively at 6–8 months, there was
an increase in dry eye symptoms in 6 of 7 patients compared with preoperatively
(ocular surface disease index, 16.6 versus 12.5; P < 0.05). There was no positive
correlation between the increase in palpebral aperture and the increase in dry eye
symptoms (r = –0.4; P = 0.30). //
Conclusions: Using modern videographic technology, this study demonstrates that
upper eyelid blepharoplasty results in an increase in resting palpebral aperture but
has no effect on dynamic blink parameters. Changes in palpebral aperture or blink
dynamics are unlikely to be the cause of dry eye syndrome following blepharoplasty