Laser Doppler perfusion imaging of eyelid skin.

We report an initial laser Doppler perfusion study of the eyelids and compare the results with those of other cutaneous regions. Eleven healthy subjects with no prior medical or surgical history, or eyelid malposition underwent laser Doppler perfusion scanning of six skin locations: right forearm, right middle fingertip, right upper eyelid, right lower eyelid, left upper eyelid, and left lower eyelid. Cutaneous perfusion in the four eyelid locations and right middle fingertip were statistically similar to each other but significantly higher than that in the right forearm (p = 0.002). Also, mean perfusion in pretarsal skin was > 50% than that in preseptal skin (p = 0.002). In addition, in an eyelid with histopathologically documented basal cell carcinoma, cutaneous perfusion was significantly higher than the mean of the normal eyelids (p = 0.002). Eyelids are perfused at the same high rate as are other regions of the head, and significantly higher than low flow regions, such as the extremities. Future application of this laser Doppler perfusion scanning include assessing burn depth, postoperative monitoring of periorbital tissue transfer, distinguishing benign and malignant adnexal skin lesions, and establishing the pathologic margins of lid tumors.