An Alternative Algorithm for Müller Muscle Conjunctival Resection Surgery for Blepharoptosis Management

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the surgical outcomes of Müller Muscle conjunctival resection surgery performed with an alternative formula. METHODS: A total of 58 eyes of 58 patients with mild ptosis (≤2 mm) and levator function ≥8 mm who responded to 2.5% phenylephrine were enrolled in this study. Müller muscle conjunctival resection was performed between March 2016-March 2018, and the charts were reviewed retrospectively. Margin-reflex distance 1 was measured before and after five minutes following the instillation of phenylephrine. The amount of excision was 9 mm when the desired elevation was achieved. If the phenylephrine testing resulted in under-correction, 10 mm was resected, and in overcorrection, 8 mm resection was performed. Margin reflex distance and Schirmer test measurements were performed preoperatively and on the first, third and sixth months postoperatively. RESULTS: The mean increase in margin-reflex distance 1 was statistically significant at the first, third and sixth months postoperatively when compared to preoperative values (p<0.05, Wilcoxon signed ranks test). Postoperative symmetry was achieved in 54 patients (93.1%) after six months. Compared to the preoperative values, changes in Schirmer-1 test results were not statistically significant at each visit after the procedure (p>0.05, Wilcoxon signed ranks test). None of the patients had keratopathy, eyelid contour abnormality, or symblepharon. CONCLUSION: Müller muscle conjunctival resection is an alternative procedure to external approach in patients with mild ptosis and good levator function. The algorithm used in this study resulted in a high success rate with high predictability.