Journal of Clinical & Experimental Dermatology Research
Open Access
ISSN: 2155-9554
+44 1478 350008
ISSN: 2155-9554
+44 1478 350008
Sameera Irfan
Posters-Accepted Abstracts: J Clin Exp Dermatol Res
Introduction: Benign Essential Blepharospasm causes a lot of ocular morbidity. A new surgical technique is being introduced to offer these patients a permanent relief. This study was conducted to assess how efficient and safe this technique is to relieve blepharospasm in such cases permanently. Materials & Methods: This is a prospective clinical, interventional study conducted at the oculoplastics department of a tertiary care centre. A total of 25 consecutive cases (50 eyes) were included in the study, conducted from Jan 2012 to Dec 2014. There were 19 females and 6 males between the ages 28-66 years (mean age 52 years). They were referred to the oculoplastics clinic because of their inability to keep their eyes open and frequent blinking. After a thorough history, a complete ophthalmological examination was carried out by a single examiner(SI). Any associated causes of ocular irritation like dry eyes, meibomitis and blepahritis were first treated with lid hygiene, lubricants, tetracycline eye ointment massaged into the lid margins and wearing tinted glasses. After one month of this therapy, a limited orbicularis myectomy of both the upper and lower lids was performed under local anesthesia by a single surgeon. All cases were followed up after 1 week, one month, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year. The patients were asked about subjective improvement while the presence and extent of spasms was also noted objectively. Any complications like lid edema, lagophthalmos, corneal exposure was also noted. Results: A total of 25 consecutive cases (50 eyes) were included in the study, with 19 females and 6 males between the ages 28-66 years (mean age 52 years). A positive family history was present in only 3 cases (12%), the rest were all sporadic. After treating or removing the triggering factors and a meticulous control of their diabetes and hypertension, all patients underwent a limited orbicularis myectomy of all 4 eyelids simultaneously, under local anesthesia by a single surgeon. After the first postoperative dressing, ecchymosis of lower lids was noted in 13 cases (52%); a slight lid swelling at the lateral lid margin was present only in 3 cases (12%). No lad lag, lid asymmetry or corneal exposure was noted in any case. The patient satisfaction was 100%. Conclusion: Limited orbicularis myectomy by this procedure was found to be effective in providing a long-term relief of spasms and was not associated with any complications. However, proper patient selection and treatment of triggering factors pre-operatively is mandatory.
Sameera Irfan is a Consultant Oculoplastics Surgeon & Strabismologist, in Mughal Eye Trust Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan. She completed her MBBS from Fatima Jinnah Medical College, Lahore, Pakistan and she is a gold medalist in ophthalmology. She is an active member of various societies like, Royal College of Ophthalmologists, Royal College of Surgeons, Ophthalmological Society of Pakistan, Pakistan Oculoplastic Association, Pakistan Association of Pediatric Ophthalmology, All India Ophthalmological Society, Oculoplastic Association of India.