Correlation of the vision-related functional impairment associated with blepharoptosis and the impact of blepharoptosis surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effect of blepharoptosis on patients' visual function and health-related quality of life and to determine what measures are associated with postsurgical change in functional status.


METHODS
Prospective, observational case series.


METHODS
One hundred patients with unilateral or bilateral blepharoptosis. INTERVENTION/MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Preoperative and postoperative upper eyelid position (i.e., margin reflex distance [MRD]) and superior visual field (SVF) height, as well as subjective visual function and health-related quality-of-life functional status before and after ptosis surgery.


RESULTS
There was a mean 30-point increase in functional index score after ptosis repair (P < 0.001). Lower (more ptotic) preoperative upper eyelid position and SVF (combined eye) were associated with greater change in functional index after surgery (r = -0.290, P = 0.007 and r = -0.39, P = 0.003, respectively). Preoperative visual field testing with manual lid elevation was not significantly correlated to the postoperative change in functional index (P > 0.100). The strongest correlation of postoperative functional index change was with the preoperative functional status (r = -0.79, P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients' functional status is reduced by blepharoptosis, and surgical repair results in measurable increase in health-related quality of life. Patients' self-reported preoperative functional impairment is most strongly associated with the degree of postsurgical functional improvement.
Federici
T J
TJ
Lions Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Albany Medical College, New York 12208, USA.
Meyer
D R
DR
Lininger
L L
LL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001763:Blepharoptosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D005143:Eyelids / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology; D014785:Vision, Ocular / Q000502:physiology*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*; D014794:Visual Fields / Q000502:physiology