Dry eye symptoms in patients after eyelid reconstruction with full-thickness eyelid defects: using the Tomey TG-1000 thermographer.
BACKGROUND
Large full-thickness eyelid defects are conventionally reconstructed by either a Hughes flap or Cutler-Beard bridge flap. Since the structure of the eyelid and its components are necessary for the tear film production and stability, we investigated the outcome after eyelid reconstruction focusing on dry eye symptoms using a new thermographic device, the TG-1000.


METHODS
Seventeen eyes of patients formerly treated with Hughes flaps (n = 16) and a Cutler-Beard bridge flap (n = 1) were compared to untreated healthy eyes (n = 17) regarding the functional and aesthetic outcome. The follow-up ranged from 3 to 63 months (mean 24.88 ± 17.86).


RESULTS
There was no significant difference in Schirmer's test, break-up time and ocular surface temperature (p > 0.05) between patients after full-thickness eyelid reconstruction and a control group. Eleven patients had minor postoperative complications such as notching of the lid margin (11/17), epiphora (1/17), superficial punctate keratitis (6/17), trichiasis (2/17) and a mild tendency to eversion of the lid margin (6/17). More than 75% of the patients rated their postoperative aesthetic outcome as good or even excellent.


CONCLUSIONS
The new TG-1000 device is a simple and quick tool for screening of dry eye. This study shows that tarsoconjunctival grafts offer good aesthetic and functional outcome with sufficient tear film composition and stability.
Department of Ophthalmology, Charité, University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany. johannes.gonnermann@charite.de
Johannes
J
Gonnermann
Julian P
JP
Klein
Matthias K J
MK
Klamann
Anna-Karina
AK
Maier
Uwe
U
Pleyer
Antonia M
AM
Joussen
Eckart
E
Bertelmann
D000368:Aged; D019882:Blepharoplasty; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological / Q000295:instrumentation*; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005142:Eyelid Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013666:Tears / Q000737:chemistry; D013817:Thermography / Q000295:instrumentation*