title: Functional benefits and patient satisfaction with upper blepharoplasty - evaluated by objective and subjective outcome measures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the functional benefits and patient satisfaction with upper blepharoplasty in patients meeting the Danish visitation guidelines for upper blepharoplasty from the Danish Health and Medicines Authority (Sundhedsstyrelsen).
  
  
  METHODS
  Before and 3 months after upper blepharoplasty, the following investigations were made: (i) a standard eye examination, (ii) photographic documentation with a normal camera and the infrared camera of a Spectralis Optical Coherence Tomograph and (iii) measurements of the upper visual fields using the blepharoptosis test of Octopus 900. Along with the pre- and postoperative examinations, the patients completed a questionnaire concerning the functional and psychosocial impact of their eyelids.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety eyelids of 45 patients were studied, 34 females and 11 males. The mean age was 56.9 years (SD: 12.8). The mean change in the distance between the upper eyelid skin fold and the visual axis or the marginal reflex distance (MRD), depending on which was lowest, was 1.6 mm (SD: 0.8 mm) for the right eyelids and 1.2 (SD: 0.9 mm) for the left eyelids. The mean improvement in the upper visual field was 31.3% points for the right eyelids (SD: 21.4% points) and 28.3% points for the left eyelids (SD: 24.9% points). A statistically significant correlation between the preoperative distance from skin fold to visual axis/MRD and the pre- and postoperative visual field was found. The patients reported an improvement in their symptoms postoperatively. All subjects were satisfied with the postoperative result and would undergo the surgery again if they had to make the choice again.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients meeting the Danish visitation guidelines for upper blepharoplasty experience a measurable improvement in function and alleviation of symptoms after blepharoplasty.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark.|Department of Ophthalmology, Thy-Mors Hospital, Thisted, Denmark.
authors.forename: Agnes Galbo
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Jacobsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brost
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark.|Ophthalmology Specialty Practice, Eyecenter North, Hjørring, Denmark.
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vorum
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Thy-Mors Hospital, Thisted, Denmark.|Department of Ophthalmology, Bajcsy-Zsilinszky Hospital, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Janos
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hargitai
mesh_terms: D019882:Blepharoplasty / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards; D001763:Blepharoptosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005143:Eyelids / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009801:Oculomotor Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014792:Visual Acuity
keywords: dermathochalasis; eyelid surgery; functional indications; patient satisfaction; upper blepharoplasty