Objective: To describe the clinical features of blepharochalasis and the effect of surgical treatment of associated deformities.
Methods: A retrospective study reviewed 54 patients (98 eyes) with blepharochalasis. The main features analyzed included sex, age of onset, duration and clinical signs. Surgical treatment for the correction of deformities includes blepharoplasty; resuspension of the prolapsed lacrimal gland, ptosis repair, surgical correction of lower eyelid retraction and lateral canthoplasty. Follow-up ranged from 6 to 60 months.
Results: The average age of onset was 9.3 years. The duration in all 54 patients (32 females and 22 males) lasted for 2 - 16 years and different periorbital deformities were presented. After surgical repair, all patients were satisfied with their bilateral symmetrical creases in upper eyelids and the contour of upper eyelids. The appearance of floppy eyelids has been improved distinctly. The lateral canthus moved to the normal position. No patients complained epiphora or dry eye symptoms. Prolapse of the lacrimal gland recurred in two patients (three eyes). They underwent reoperation with no further recurrence. Overcorrection in blepharoptosis surgery of five patients was fixed with suture adjustment of the levator aponeurosis.
Conclusions: Blepharochalasis onset often occurs around age 10 years and stabilizes till adolescence. Since it involves bilateral or unilateral, local eye tissues or periorbital tissues, clinical manifestations may vary in blepharochalasis. Ophthalmic plastic surgery to correct blepharochalasis and its associated deformities in the quiescent stage is usually safe and with satisfactory cosmetic effects.