Histologic and clinical evaluation of combined eyelid erbium: YAG and CO2 laser resurfacing.

PURPOSE: To report the histopathologic and clinical effects of eyelid resurfacing that combines two different lasers.

METHODS: A case series of 23 patients who underwent eyelid resurfacing with two passes of the Erbium:YAG laser followed by one pass of the CO2 laser. With the Student t test, we compared skin re-epithelialization time and duration of erythema with those of a previous group of 25 patients who had undergone eyelid resurfacing with only the CO2 laser (two passes). A pathologist evaluated all skin biopsy specimens.

RESULTS: Combining both lasers shortened re-epithelialization time (7 vs 12 days, P = .04) and the duration of erythema (2.5 vs 7.0 weeks, P = .02). Histopathologic examination disclosed less coagulative dermal damage with the combined laser protocol.

CONCLUSION: The different biophysical properties of these two lasers can be combined in a periorbital resurfacing protocol to minimize both clinical and histopathologic morbidity.