The Effects of Blepharoptosis Surgery on Meibomian Gland, Tear Film, and Corneal Topography

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to evaluate the Meibomian gland (MG), tear film, and corneal changes in the post-operative period following ptosis surgery using corneal topography. METHODS: This non-comparative, case series study analyzed 30 eyes of 23 patients undergoing blepharoptosis surgery with an external approach. Ocular surface and tear film evaluation was performed at baseline and post-operative 3rd month. The corneal topography was used to assess the MG, the noninvasive tear film break-up time (NI-TBUT), K values, astigmatism, and corneal aberrations. For the examination of dry eyes, the I-TBUT, Schirmer, and ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaires were also performed. RESULTS: The study involved patients with a mean age of 55.1±18.11 years. Postoperatively, marginal reflex distance 1 is significantly increased (1.23±1.09 vs. 3.65±0.65; p=0.001). Results revealed no significant changes in Kmean (43.65±1.15 vs. 43.67±1.14; p=0.727), astigmatism (−1±0.74 vs. −0.99±0.68; p=0.910), and corrected distance visual acuity logMAR (0.09±0.1 vs. 0.07±0.11; p=0.497). There was a significant increase in MG loss area postoperatively (5.02±5.04–7.75±6.75; p=0.047), while the degree of MG loss did not significantly change (0.2±0.48 vs. 0.37±0.56; p=0.132). However, no significant differences were detected in Schirmer I test (17.4±4.7 vs. 16.1±5.5; p=0.711), I-TBUT (12.4±3.1 vs. 11.9±4.7; p=0.483), and OSDI questionnaire score (16.7±9.4 vs. 17.9±10.3; p=0.176) between baseline and post-operative measurements. Similarly, no significant changes were found in NI-TBUT (5.73±3.72 vs. 6.58 4.71; p=0.535) and NIAvg-TBUT (6.06±4.8 vs. 7.51±4.43; p=0.322) values. CONCLUSION: Surgical correction of blepharoptosis affects MG morphology without causing dry eye at the 3rd month. Post-operative corneal topography is useful in demonstrating changes in the MG.