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Objective AS-OCT measurements of tear meniscus parameters following upper eyelid blepharoplasty
Ramzi M Alameddine1, Noura Wahoud2, Hussein Baalbaki2
1Department of Ophthalmology, American University of Beirut Medical Center, P.O. Box 11-0236, Beirut, Lebanon. ramzi.alameddine@aub.edu.lb.
Purpose:
To evaluate the effect of upper eyelid blepharoplasty on objective ocular surface and tear meniscus parameters, including novel measurements obtained by anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT).
Methods:
A prospective, single-center study was conducted on 102 eyes (51 patients) undergoing upper eyelid blepharoplasty. Outcome measures included the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), Schirmer testing, and AS-OCT parameters: non-invasive anterior surface-tear breakup time (AS-TBUT), tear meniscus height (TMH), tear meniscus depth (TMD), and tear meniscus area (TMA). Changes over time were analyzed using mixed-effects statistical models.
Results:
Within the first 10 days postoperatively, significant increases were observed in OSDI (β = 3.035; 95% CI 1.210-4.860; P = 0.001), TMD (Β = 69.717, p = 0.004), and TMA (Β = 37,377.94, p = 0.005). TMH showed a non-significant trend toward increase (p = 0.098). No statistically significant changes were detected in Schirmer testing or AS-TBUT. At > 10 to ≤ 30 days, > 30 to ≤ 50 days, and > 50 days, no statistically significant differences from the preoperative assessment were detected.
Conclusion:
Upper eyelid blepharoplasty was associated with early increases in TMD, TMA, and OSDI, reflecting increased tear volume and ocular surface symptoms. No statistically significant changes were detected in tear-film stability or aqueous tear production. At later time points, no statistically significant differences from baseline were detected.