J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2008 Apr;49(4):548-554. 10.3341/jkos.2008.49.4.548.

Frontalis Suspension Using a Silicone Rod in Blepharoptosis Patients with Poor Ocular Motility

• Choi YJ
• Kim YD

• KMID: 2211483
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/jkos.2008.49.4.548

Abstract

PURPOSE: To determine the efficacy of frontalis sling operation with silicone rods in patients with compromised corneal protective mechanisms.
METHODS
The authors retrospectively studied 6 consecutive patients (7 eyelids) with severe blepharoptosis with poor ocular motility who had undergone frontalis sling operations using silicone rods.
RESULTS
Preoperative diagnoses included third nerve palsy in 4 patients, double elevator palsy in 1 patient, and suspicious oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy in 1 patient. With a mean follow up of 27.7 months, a good final lid height was achieved in all 7 eyelids. Mild exposure keratopathy occurred postoperatively in 3 patients. During the follow-up period, no other significant complications, such as extrusion of the sling or infection, occurred.
CONCLUSIONS
Silicone rods are effective and safe materials for use in frontalis suspension in treating blepharoptosis in patients with inadequate or absent Bell's phenomenon, resulting in poor eye protective mechanisms associated with an increased incidence of corneal exposure.

Keyword

Absent Bell's phenomenon; Blepharoptosis; Frontalis sling; Silicone rod

MeSH Terms

Blepharoptosis
Elevators and Escalators
Eye
Eyelids
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Incidence
Muscular Dystrophy, Oculopharyngeal
Oculomotor Nerve Diseases
Paralysis
Retrospective Studies
Silicones
Silicones