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Lacrimal gland prolapse common during functional upper blepharoplasty
Ophthal Plast Reconstr Surg. 2011;27(6):410-413.
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Lacrimal gland prolapse is common during functional upper blepharoplasty and appears to be a normal occurrence with aging, according to a study.
"Most cases are moderate in degree, and not associated with specific preoperative symptoms or complaints, except lateral hooding with concomitant visual field deficit," the study author wrote. "Repositioning the gland intraoperatively is generally complication free and typically not associated with increased morbidity or healing time."
The researcher evaluated lacrimal gland position intraoperatively in 57 patients undergoing functional upper blepharoplasty. Thirty-four patients had some lacrimal gland prolapse, of which the gland was arbitrarily suture-repositioned if there was 4 mm or more of prolapse. Surgical outcomes were evaluated.
Intraoperatively displaced lacrimal glands were evaluated over a 2-year period, and patients were evaluated 6 months postop with an average follow-up of 1 year.
Results showed that eight patients had mild prolapse (0 mm to 2 mm), 23 had moderate prolapse (3 mm to 5 mm) and three had severe prolapse (6 mm or more). Nineteen patients had the gland suture-repositioned, and 15 received cautery to retro-place the gland. One patient had transient dry eye symptoms that developed after surgery, according to the study.