Effects of Aging on Orbicularis Oculi Muscle Strength and Ultrastructure in Dermatochalasis: A Pilot Study

Background: Age-related changes to the orbicularis oculi muscle include impaired eyelid function, such as lagophthalmos, alterations in tear film dynamics, and aesthetic changes like wrinkles, festoons, and the descent of soft tissue. To date, the structural and functional changes that would comprehensively increase our understanding of orbicularis aging have not been analyzed. This study aims to investigate functional outcomes using surface electromyography and correlate them with ultrastructural changes in orbicularis during aging. Methods: This study enrolled 26 patients aged 37 to 78 years with a clinical diagnosis of dermatochalasis. Patients were divided into two age groups (<60 years; ≥60 years). Ultrastructural and electromyographical examinations were performed, and the electromyographical signals were correlated with the ultrastructural damage in the orbicularis. Results: This study revealed significantly lower values of average voluntary contraction and RMS of the surface electromyography signals in the older age group compared to the younger age group (p = 0.029 and p = 0.045, respectively). There was no statistically significant association between age and muscle damage (χ²(2) = 2.86, p > 0.05). There was no correlation between average voluntary contraction and the degree of ultrastructural damage in both groups (Spearman's coefficient equaled 0.06923 and 0.64366, respectively). Conclusions: sEMG measurements are valuable for monitoring age-related functional changes in the orbicularis. Aging diminishes the functional capacity of the orbicularis, as evidenced by reduced contraction strength. This study, the first to compare ultrastructural and electromyographical changes in the orbicularis among dermatochalasis patients of different ages, finds that ultrastructural damage to muscle fibers is not directly responsible for the contraction strength decline.