Changes in Lower Eyelid Position and Shape After Inferior Orbital Wall Reconstruction

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Plastic Surgery
• Reconstructive Surgery

Background:

• Blowout fractures of the orbit can lead to enophthalmos and lower eyelid malposition.
• Inferior orbital wall reconstruction aims to restore orbital volume and correct deformities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze morphological changes in lower eyelid position and shape following inferior orbital wall reconstruction.
• To correlate these changes with the degree of enophthalmos improvement.

Main Methods:

• A study of 47 eyes with blowout fractures undergoing inferior orbital wall reconstruction.
• Pre- and post-operative digital photographs were used to measure eyelid parameters like MRD1, MRD2, LEL, and palpebral fissure areas.
• Exophthalmometry was performed to quantify enophthalmos.

Main Results:

• Pre-operatively, injured orbits showed smaller exophthalmometry values and eyelid measurements compared to the uninjured side.
• Post-operatively, significant improvements were observed in MRD2, LEL, medial palpebral fissure area, and LCA.
• Multivariate analysis indicated that changes in MRD2 and LCA were associated with improved enophthalmos.

Conclusions:

• Inferior orbital reconstruction in blowout fracture patients results in retraction of the central and medial lower eyelid.
• The degree of lower eyelid central retraction correlates with the improvement in enophthalmos.