Expanding Role of Orbital Decompression in Aesthetic Surgery

Eye prominence is a source of cosmetic "deformity" for many patients not afflicted by Graves.

To report our experience in using customized orbital decompression for purely aesthetic reason to reduce eye prominence in non-thyroid patients.

Retrospective analysis of patients undergoing cosmetic orbital decompression by one surgeon. Surgical technique included customized graded orbital bony-wall decompression (lateral-wall, basin, medial-wall, posterior-strut) and intraconal fat removal using eyelid crease and/or caruncle incisions. Inclusion criteria included any patient with relative prominent eye due to non-thyroid etiology. Preoperative and postoperative photographs at longest follow-up were used for analysis. Outcome measures included patient satisfaction (via a written questionnaire) and complication rates.

Etiologies of prominent eyes included congenital shallow orbits (14), congenital hypoplasia of malar-eminence (5), enlarged globe from high myopia (5), buphthalmos (1), and relative proptosis from contralateral enophthalmos (1). Concurrent procedures included lower eyelid-retractors lysis (5), periocular fat injection (3), tear-trough implant (3), canthoplasty (3), and periocular filler injection (3). Mean patient age was 33.8 years (range, 19-60 years). The average follow-up was 9 months (range, 6 months-4 years). All 26 patients (11 males, 15 females) had reduction in globe prominence. The mean reduction in axial globe position was 3.1 mm (range, 1.5-6.2 mm). Twenty-four of 26 patients were satisfied with the surgical outcome, with 2 patients complaining of sunken eyes. No case of permanent diplopia occurred.

Orbital decompression may be done for cosmetic purpose, effectively and safely, to reduce eye prominence in non-thyroid patients by an experienced orbital surgeon.

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