The Utility of Preoperative Phenylephrine Testing in Müller Muscle Conjunctival Resection Surgery for Involutional Ptosis.

PURPOSE: Phenylephrine testing prior to Müller muscle conjunctival resection has traditionally been used to predict postoperative outcomes. The purpose of this study is to determine if preoperative phenylephrine testing impacts postoperative changes in eyelid position. METHODS: In this multicenter cross-sectional cohort study, 270 eyelids of participants with involutional ptosis and levator function >12 mm who underwent Müller muscle conjunctival resection were divided into 2 comparison groups. Participants who had preoperative phenylephrine testing served as the control group and those who did not were the study group. The primary outcome measure was postoperative marginal reflex distance from the upper eyelid margin (marginal reflex distance 1 [MRD1]) at the latest follow-up visit. Secondary outcomes included change in MRD1, reoperation rate, and predictive capacity of preoperative phenylephrine testing. RESULTS: Of the 270 eyelids that underwent Müller muscle conjunctival resection, 116 eyelids served as controls and 154 were in the study group. Mean age of participants was 62.6 years. Levator function, resection length, preoperative MRD1, change in MRD1, and latest postoperative MRD1 measures when compared in the control and study groups demonstrated no significance (p > 0.05) via 2-tailed t-test. Postoperative MRD1 was correctly predicted within 1 mm for 60.2% of eyelids that underwent preoperative phenylephrine testing. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative phenylephrine testing does not significantly predict postoperative eyelid elevation following Müller muscle conjunctival resection. Surgeons may thereby reassess the utility of preoperative phenylephrine testing given the lack of influence on surgical outcomes.

Orbital decompression following treatment with teprotumumab for thyroid eye disease.

OBJECTIVE: To quantify the observed decrease in orbital decompressions being performed at one tertiary care institution and to determine the rate and predictive factors of orbital decompression surgery following treatment with teprotumumab for thyroid eye disease. METHODS: Epic's SlicerDicer program was used to analyze recent trends in the overall number of thyroid eye disease (TED) patients evaluated in the oculoplastic surgery department, as well as usage trends of CPT codes 67445 (lateral orbitotomy with bone removal for decompression) and 67414 (orbitotomy with removal of bone for decompression). A retrospective chart review of active moderate-to-severe TED patients treated with teprotumumab was performed at a single tertiary care center. The main outcome measure was whether or not patients underwent bony orbital decompression surgery following treatment with teprotumumab. The SlicerDicer search demonstrated stable usage of CPT codes 67445 and 67414 from 2016 to 2019, followed by a significant decrease from 2020 to 2023, over a background of increasing numbers of TED patients evaluated in clinic. Following teprotumumab therapy, 25% of patients and 18% of orbits underwent bony decompression. Surgically decompressed patients had higher pre- and post-teprotumumab exophthalmometry measurements compared with patients who did not undergo bony decompression. Average time to decompression following conclusion or cessation of teprotumumab therapy was 12.6 months. CONCLUSION: While the number of TED patients treated at one tertiary care center has risen over recent years, the number of orbital decompression surgeries has declined. Orbital decompression, however, is still needed in select patients after treatment with teprotumumab.

Outcomes of centrally versus laterally based tarsoconjuctival pedicle flap reconstruction for large full thickness lower eyelid defects.

BACKGROUND: To compare the outcomes of two types of tarsoconjunctival pedicle flaps for reconstruction of large lower eyelid defects. METHODS: Retrospective medical record review of consecutive patients who underwent centrally-based or laterally-based tarsoconjunctival pedicle transconjunctival flap for lower eyelid reconstruction for defects greater than 50% of the lid margin. Full thickness skin grafts were used for anterior lamellar reconstruction in all cases. The primary outcome measure was eyelid position, function and satisfactory cosmesis. RESULTS: Forty-three patients were identified. Twenty-six patients underwent reconstruction with a centrally-based tarsoconjunctival pedicle flap; 17 patients underwent reconstruction with a laterally-based tarsoconjunctival pedicle flap. The average size of the lid defect was 77.7% (range 50-100%) in the central group and 75% (range 50-100%) in the lateral group (p=0.604). Mean follow up time was 61.5 weeks in the central group and 46.6 weeks in the lateral group (p=0.765). After division of the flap and during follow up, 27% of the centrally based group required revisional surgery with none in the laterally based group (p=0.03). 100% of the patients with centrally based flaps required second staged division of flap, whereas only 52% of patients with a laterally based flaps underwent second staged flap division. (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Outcome suggests that for reconstruction of large lower lid defects requiring lid sharing procedures, both centrally and lateral-based procedures have equivalent functional outcome. However, the laterally based group has less need for revisional procedures and may not need a second stage division of the flap.

Effects of Teprotumumab on Eyelid Retraction in Thyroid Eye Disease.

PURPOSE: This study evaluates the efficacy of teprotumumab in reducing eyelid retraction in thyroid eye disease (TED) patients. METHODS: This retrospective study included patients with active or chronic moderate-to-severe TED who completed at least 4 cycles of teprotumumab. Patients with upper and/or lower eyelid retraction, defined as margin-to-reflex distance (MRD) 1 and/or MRD2 of more than 5 mm, in one or OU were included. The main outcome measure was a change in MRD1 and MRD2 after treatment. Changes in MRD1 and MRD2 were each analyzed for correlation (r) with changes in exophthalmolmetry. Student t test was performed for each comparison, and p values <0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: The study included 91 patients, predominantly female (87%), with an average age of 52.02 ± 14.6 years. The mean baseline proptosis measurement was 21.8 ± 2.9 OD and 21.7 ± 3.3 OS. The average MRD1 was 5.5 ± 1.5 OD and 5.4 ± 1.7 OS, and the average MRD2 was 6.1 ± 1.1 OD and 6.2 ± 1.1 OS. The follow-up duration post-treatment was 37.5 ± 31.7 weeks. At first follow-up post-treatment, the mean change in proptosis, MRD1, and MRD2 were -2.6 ± 2.0 OD, -2.5 ± 2.1 OS, -0.8.5 ± 1.4 OD, -0.8 ± 1.0 OS, and -0.7 ± 0.9 OD, -0.8 ± 1.0 OS, respectively. Correlation analysis showed that proptosis reduction was positively correlated with MRD1 and MRD2 reduction at the first post-treatment follow-up (MRD1: r = 0.23, p value < 0.01; MRD2: r = 0.17, p = 0.03]. CONCLUSION: Teprotumumab treatment improves upper and lower eyelid retraction. The improvement in MRD correlated positively with proptosis reduction, indicating the influence of globe position on eyelid position.

Is Blepharoplasty Cost-effective? Utility Analysis of Dermatochalasis and Cost-effectiveness Analysis of Upper Eyelid Blepharoplasty.

PURPOSE: This cross-sectional prospective study measured utility values of upper eyelid dermatochalasis to quantify its impact on quality of life and assess cost-effectiveness of upper blepharoplasty. METHODS: Utility of dermatochalasis was assessed using the standard reference gamble and time trade-off methods, with dual anchor points of perfect eye function and perfect health. The utility value obtained was used to create a Markov model and run a cost-effectiveness analysis of blepharoplasty as a treatment for dermatochalasis while utilizing the societal perspective. RESULTS: One hundred three patients with dermatochalasis recruited from an urban outpatient ophthalmology clinic completed the utility survey. The authors determined utility values for dermatochalasis ranging from 0.74 to 0.92 depending on the measurement method (standard reference gamble/time trade-off) and anchor points. The cost-effectiveness analysis yielded an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $3,146 per quality-adjusted life year, well under the conventional willingness-to-pay threshold of $50,000 per quality-adjusted life year. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis with Monte Carlo simulation demonstrated that blepharoplasty would be cost-effective in 88.1% of cases at this willingness-to-pay threshold. CONCLUSIONS: Dermatochalasis has an impact on quality of life that is significantly associated with level of perceived functional impairment. Rising health care costs have underscored the importance of providing value-based treatment to patients, and the results of this study suggest that blepharoplasty is a cost-effective treatment option for symptomatic bilateral upper eyelid dermatochalasis.

Clinical challenge: Looking beyond blurred margins.

A 60-year-old man presented to an outside ophthalmology clinic with 1 month of progressive vision loss in the right eye (OD). Right optic disc edema was noted. Brain and orbit magnetic resonance imaging revealed right optic nerve and left occipital lobe enhancement. He was seen initially by neurology and neurosurgery and subsequently referred to neuro-ophthalmology for consideration of optic nerve biopsy. He was seen 3 months after his initial symptom onset where vision was light perception OD and a relative afferent pupillary defect with optic nerve edema. OS was unremarkable. A lumbar puncture with flow cytometry was negative for multiple sclerosis and lymphoma. At his oculoplastic evaluation for optic nerve biopsy, his vision was noted to be no light perception OD. Optic nerve biopsy demonstrated non-caseating granulomatous inflammation consistent with neurosarcoidosis. The patient was started on high-dose oral steroids with improvement of disc edema, as well as significant improvement in optic nerve and intracranial parenchymal enhancement, although his vision never improved.

Teprotumumab for Thyroid Eye Disease-related Strabismus.

PURPOSE: To assess and quantify teprotumumab's effect on thyroid eye disease-related strabismus by change in measured horizontal and vertical deviations and change in extraocular motility. METHODS: We reviewed a series of patients with thyroid eye disease-related strabismus treated with teprotumumab. Exclusion criteria included age under 18 years, strabismus of alternate etiology, or thyroid eye disease-related reconstructive surgery during the treatment course. Primary outcomes were absolute (prism diopters) and relative (%) differences in horizontal and vertical deviations in primary position at distance, as well as change in ductions of the more affected eye. Secondary outcomes included incidence and timing of strabismus surgery postteprotumumab. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients were included, with mean age 63 years and thyroid eye disease duration 10 months. After teprotumumab, there was 6 prism diopters (39%) mean reduction in vertical deviation ( p < 0.001), without significant change in mean horizontal deviation ( p = 0.75). Supraduction, abduction, adduction, and infraduction significantly improved in the more restricted eye ( p < 0.01, p < 0.01, p = 0.04, and p = 0.01, respectively). Thirty-five percent of patients underwent strabismus surgery posttreatment, at an average 10 months after last infusion. CONCLUSIONS: Teprotumumab produced a statistically significant reduction in vertical but not horizontal strabismus angles in primary position at distance. Extraocular motility in all 4 ductions also improved. A substantial minority of patients still required strabismus surgery following teprotumumab.

Reconstruction of Full-Thickness Eyelid Defects Following Tumor Resection: The Bucket Handle Modification.

PURPOSE: To describe a modified approach for full-thickness lower eyelid defect reconstruction. METHODS: This is a retrospective review of 5 patients with large full-thickness lower eyelid defects after tumor resection requiring reconstruction. For these lower eyelid defects, a lateral-based or superior-based tarsoconjunctival pedicle flap from the upper eyelid was used to rebuild the posterior lamella. In all cases, the anterior lamella was supplied from an adjacent myocutaneous flap in a bucket handle configuration. Data collection included tumor type and location, size of eyelid defect, presence of canalicular involvement, postoperative eyelid position, patient satisfaction, and complication rates. RESULTS: Five eyelids of 5 patients underwent Mohs micrographic excision of basal cell carcinoma followed by reconstruction with a bucket handle flap. Age range was 68 to 96 years old (mean of 81 y). Five patients presented with lower eyelid involvement. The defect size ranged from 80% to 100% of the eyelid. Three patients had canalicular involvement and required bicanalicular nasolacrimal stent placement. After reconstruction, all patients showed good eyelid apposition to the globe with excellent esthetic outcome. No revision procedures were done. Average follow-up time was 13 months (range of 8 to 21 mo). CONCLUSION: The bucket handle flap for full-thickness eyelid reconstruction is a simple technique that allows for preservation of all anatomical layers of the anterior lamella. This technique shows promising functional and esthetic outcomes.

The influence of orbital architecture on strabismus in craniosynostosis.

PURPOSE: To better characterize the correlation of bony orbital dysmorphology with strabismus in craniosynostosis. METHODS: The medical records of patients with craniosynostosis with and without strabismus seen at Rady Children's Hospital (San Diego, CA) from March 2020 to January 2022 were reviewed retrospectively in this masked, case-control study. Computed tomography scans of the orbits were analyzed to obtain dimensions of the orbital entrance and orbital cone. Primary outcome was correlation of strabismus with orbital measurements. RESULTS: A total of 30 orbits from 15 patients with strabismus and 15 controls were included. Craniofacial disorders included in the study were nonsyndromic craniosynostosis (63%), Crouzon syndrome (13%), Apert syndrome (13%), and Pfeiffer syndrome (10%). Orbital index (height:width ratio) (P = 0.01) and medial orbital wall angle (P = 0.04) were found to differ significantly between the strabismus and control groups. CONCLUSIONS: In our small cohort, bony orbital dimensions, including the ratio of orbital height to width and bowing of the medial orbital wall, were associated with strabismus in craniosynostosis.

Evaluating the Accuracy of ChatGPT and Google BARD in Fielding Oculoplastic Patient Queries: A Comparative Study on Artificial versus Human Intelligence.

PURPOSE: This study evaluates and compares the accuracy of responses from 2 artificial intelligence platforms to patients' oculoplastics-related questions. METHODS: Questions directed toward oculoplastic surgeons were collected, rephrased, and input independently into ChatGPT-3.5 and BARD chatbots, using the prompt: "As an oculoplastic surgeon, how can I respond to my patient's question?." Responses were independently evaluated by 4 experienced oculoplastic specialists as comprehensive, correct but inadequate, mixed correct and incorrect/outdated data, and completely incorrect. Additionally, the empathy level, length, and automated readability index of the responses were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 112 patient questions underwent evaluation. The rates of comprehensive, correct but inadequate, mixed, and completely incorrect answers for ChatGPT were 71.4%, 12.9%, 10.5%, and 5.1%, respectively, compared with 53.1%, 18.3%, 18.1%, and 10.5%, respectively, for BARD. ChatGPT showed more empathy (48.9%) than BARD (13.2%). All graders found that ChatGPT outperformed BARD in question categories of postoperative healing, medical eye conditions, and medications. Categorizing questions by anatomy, ChatGPT excelled in answering lacrimal questions (83.8%), while BARD performed best in the eyelid group (60.4%). ChatGPT's answers were longer and potentially more challenging to comprehend than BARD's. CONCLUSION: This study emphasizes the promising role of artificial intelligence-powered chatbots in oculoplastic patient education and support. With continued development, these chatbots may potentially assist physicians and offer patients accurate information, ultimately contributing to improved patient care while alleviating surgeon burnout. However, it is crucial to highlight that artificial intelligence may be good at answering questions, but physician oversight remains essential to ensure the highest standard of care and address complex medical cases.