This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.

Tarsal sling prevents scleral show after lower blepharoplasty

In a retrospective analysis of 40 patients, tarsal sling was discovered to be a simple and quick procedure to prevent eyelid malposition after lower blepharoplasty, according to researchers.

Twenty patients underwent standard blepharoplasty (group one) and 20 underwent blepharoplasty with tarsal sling support (group two). The results were evaluated through photographs taken at 4 to 6 weeks preoperatively as well as postoperatively those taken at 30 days, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years.

Patients who underwent blepharoplasty without tarsal support experienced eyelid malposition and progressive spontaneous recovery after the immediate postsurgical time point through the end of the first year; after 1 year, results did not change.

Patients in group two had reduced scleral exposition in the immediate postoperative period, with recovery occurring during the subsequent 2 years. The researchers noted that the distance between the interpupillary line and the lower eyelid recovered almost completely by year 2 in the patients who underwent blepharoplasty with tarsal sling; however, the patients who did not had significant differences in this distance between years 1 and 2, indicating that the scleral show recovered spontaneously but was not completely resolved by the end of year 2.

The researchers concluded that the tarsal sling technique prevents lower eyelid malposition, and despute requiring a few extra minutes of operating time, can be applied routinely to lower blepharoplasty as a preventive measure. – by Abigail Sutton

Disclosure: The authors have no relevant financial disclosures.