Prospective analysis of changes in corneal topography after upper eyelid surgery.

PURPOSE: Some patients note a decrease in visual acuity in the operated eye after eyelid surgery. Although, the most common cause for this change is dry eye syndrome, it has been hypothesized that the symptom of blurred vision may result from a change in the corneal curvature. The study was conducted to determine if there is a change in corneal curvature after upper eyelid surgery.

METHODS: Standard keratometry and corneal videokeratography (CVK) were performed 1 and 3 months after blepharoplasty (18 lids) and ptosis repair (24 lids). Pre- and postoperative images from CVK data were digitally subtracted for quantitative evaluation.

RESULTS: After ptosis repair, the average dioptric change as measured by keratometry and by CVK was approximately 0.60 diopters (D); of note, nearly 30% of these patients showed transient astigmatic changes greater than 1.00 D; After blepharoplasty, the average dioptric change as measured by keratometry and by CVK was approximately 0.55 D; of note, only 11% of patients showed astigmatic changes greater than 1.00 D.

CONCLUSION: Repositioning of the upper eyelid after ptosis repair or blepharoplasty may result in visually significant astigmatic changes in the central and peripheral cornea and may alter the patient's spectacle or contact lens correction.