Symmetry in Healing After Bilateral Eyelid Surgery

Abstract

To determine whether surgery performed bilaterally (ptosis repair, blepharoplasty, or both) results in symmetric healing. Case series of 19 consecutive patients undergoing bilateral ptosis repair, blepharoplasty, or both. Patients were provided with questionnaires to determine their perception of the degree of symmetry in healing at four time points after bilateral surgery. Digital imaging analysis was used to measure the amount of bruising present on each side in a separate cohort of 10 patients undergoing bilateral eyelid surgery. Asymmetry in bruising, swelling, and discomfort was reported by the majority of patients at each time point after surgery. For each measure (bruising, swelling, and discomfort), the percentage of patients reporting asymmetry peaked at day 3. Objective measurement 7 days after surgery showed that 50% of patients had more bruising on the right and 50% had more bruising on the left. The difference in the average area of bruising was not statistically significant between sides. Eight of 10 patients had less than a 10% difference in area of bruising between sides. Patients frequently perceive asymmetry in healing after bilateral eyelid surgery, but objective measurements show that asymmetry in bruising is typically small.