Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of transconjunctival Müller muscle recession and graded levator disinsertion for eyelid retraction in patients with thyroid-related orbitopathy (TRO).
Design: Retrospective consecutive case series.
Methods: Medical record review of 78 TRO patients (107 eyelids) who underwent surgery for upper eyelid retraction in a 5-year period was performed. Main outcome measures were anatomic and functional success, minimal reflex distance (MRD), lagophthalmos, eyelid asymmetry, and patient discomfort.
Results: One hundred seven eyelid retraction surgeries were performed on 78 TRO patients (63 women, mean age 49 years); mean follow-up time was 16.7 months. Upper eyelid position, lagophthalmos, exposure keratopathy, and patients' discomfort markedly improved after surgery (P < .001). Marginal reflex distance (MRD1) decreased an average of 2.6 mm from 6 mm pre-operatively to 3.4 mm post-operatively (P < .001); lagophthalmos decreased an average of 0.6 mm from 1.3 mm pre-operatively to 0.4 mm post-operatively (P = .006) Failure rate was 8.4%, most improved with a second surgery. Overcorrection was noticed in three cases (2.8%). Eyelid asymmetry improved from a mean of 1.0 mm pre-operatively to 0.4 mm post-operatively (P = .001); more than 80% of patients showed eyelid asymmetry of 1 mm or less.
Conclusion: Transconjunctival Müller muscle and levator recession is safe and effective in correction of mild, moderate, or severe eyelid retraction in TRO patients. The failure rate is less than 10% and may be addressed by a second surgery.