Surgery of blepharoptosis with concomitant periorbital changes in the elderly population

Blepharoptosis is an abnormally low-located upper eyelid that can cover the visual axis and cause narrowing of the visual field and in extreme cases, also impacts negatively the visual acuity. Quite frequently it goes hand by hand with dermatochalasis which is defined as extra skin on the upper eyelid that also has a similar impact on visual function. Age is considered to be a risk factor for both of these entities and in an increasingly aging population, the number of patients is calculated to be on the rise. We evaluated the patients who suffered from one or both of these conditions. To determine the frequency and optimal surgical treatment of acquired blepharoptosis in patients with age-related periorbital changes (dermatochalasis) in the elderly group of patients, 31 patients aged 56 to 86 years (mean 68±8 years), men 5 (16 %), and women 26 (84%) were examined. One-stage minimally invasive surgical correction of blepharoptosis, supplemented by upper blepharoplasty to eliminate dermatochalasis should be based on the individual characteristics of the patient, his pathology. It is advisable to consider the simultaneous correction of blepharoptosis and dermatochalasis as the most optimal, since it provides both functional improvement and cosmetic satisfaction for the patient, restoration of the quality of life.