title: Superficial conjunctiva cauterization to reduce moderate conjunctivochalasis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We report here a simple surgical approach to reduce moderate conjunctivochalasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A non-comparative prospective interventional case series study of fifteen consecutive patients with moderate conjunctivochalasis was carried out. On the inferior bulbar conjunctiva 10 to 20 superficial burns were performed with an electrical bipolar cauter to reduce moderate conjunctivochalasis. Before and around a mean time of six months after surgery digital photographs of the conjunctivochalasis were taken at the slit lamp. The maximal height of the conjunctivochalasis above the lower eyelid margin measured before surgery was compared with the height of the conjunctivochalasis measured after surgery around the same location (one eye per patient).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In each patient, gentle and superficial cauterization induced contraction of the bulbar conjunctiva and reduction of the conjunctivochalasis. No complications were noted during or after the procedure. Mean (+/- SD) maximal conjunctivochalasis height above the lower eyelid margin was higher before (2.3 +/- 0.9 mm) than after surgery (0.8 +/- 0.6 mm). Preoperative values of conjunctivochalasis height were significantly (p < 0.001) different from the postoperative ones (Wilcoxon rank signed test).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gentle superficial cauterization of the inferior bulbar conjunctiva can induced significant reduction of a moderate conjunctivochalasis.
authors: Oculoplastic and Lacrimal Surgery Department, University Eye Clinic, Basel, Switzerland. ivan.haefliger@bluewin.ch
authors: I O
authors: IO
authors: Haefliger
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Vysniauskiene
authors: A-R
authors: AR
authors: Figueiredo
authors: J-M
authors: JM
authors: Piffaretti
mesh_terms: D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D003229:Conjunctival Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000379:methods*; D005141:Eyelid Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome