Amblyopic astigmatism characteristics and surgical outcomes in younger children with severe congenital ptosis after frontalis suspension surgery

BACKGROUND: To examine the astigmatism characteristics and surgical outcomes in patients with unilateral severe congenital ptosis following frontalis suspension surgery. METHODS: We included 53 congenital ptosis patients who underwent frontalis suspension surgery in Hunan Children's Hospital. Each patient underwent a refractive examination before and after surgery to assess astigmatism. We also evaluated the effects and complications associated with the procedure. RESULTS: Degree of astigmatism in ptotic and fellow eyes was − 1.45 ± 0.59 D and − 0.66 ± 0.51 D before surgery. Ratio of severe astigmatism in ptotic and fellow eyes was 51.3 and 12.8%. The fellow eyes presented with with-the-rule astigmatism (WR; 71.8%) and against-the-rule astigmatism (AR; 20.5%) types, with no cases of oblique astigmatism (OA). Ptotic eyes demonstrated higher frequencies of AR (59.0%) and OA (10.2%) than did fellow eyes. Furthermore, the former showed increased astigmatism, followed by a gradual decrease at the 6-month, before significantly decreasing at the 1-year postoperatively. The ratio of postoperative AR and OA astigmatism cases in ptotic eyes decreased to 35.9 and 7.7% 1 month postoperatively. However, there was a postoperative increase in the WR ratio from 30.8 to 56.4% after 1 month. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed a success rate of 81.4% at 6 months and 62.9% at 12 months which was influenced by the following complications: suture reaction, epithelial keratopathy, infection and granuloma, lid lag, and recurrence. CONCLUSION: Monocular congenital ptosis could develop severe astigmatism and higher frequency of AR or OA, early surgery may ameliorate astigmatic amblyopia.