J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2013 Aug;54(8):1269-1274.

Widening of Palpebral Fissure Due to Lateral Rectus Muscle Recession

• Lee SB
• Heo DW
• Lee HM
• Lee YH

Abstract

PURPOSE
To evaluate the incidence and course of widening of palpebral fissure after unilateral lateral rectus muscle recession.
METHODS
The palpebral fissure width (PFW) was measured in 20 patients with intermittent exotropia before unilateral rectus muscle recession and 1 week, 1 month and 6 months after the surgery.
RESULTS
The amount of recession was from 7.5 to 9.0 (mean 8.37 +/- 0.51) mm. More than 0.6 mm of change in PFW after surgery was defined as the significant change. The significant change was observed in 10 patients (50%) after 1 week, 7 patients (35%) after 1 month and 7 patients (35%) after 6 months after the surgery. The amount of recession was significantly greater in the group with significant change (8.60 +/- 0.39 mm) than the group without significant change (8.15 +/- 0.53 mm) (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Thirty five percent of the patients showed palpebral fissure widening lasts at least 6 months after unilateral lateral rectus muscle recession. We think it is necessary to notice patients about the possible change in palpebral fissure width before strabismus surgery. And we believe that more cosmetically satisfactory outcome would be resulted if surgeons consider eyelid condition when they are planning strabismus surgery.

Keyword

Lid change; Palpebral Fissure; Rectus recession; Strabismus surgery

MeSH Terms

Exotropia
Eyelids
Humans
Incidence
Muscles
Strabismus

Figure

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  Figure 1. Measurement of the Palpebral fissure width. We measured the distance between upper and lower eyelid margin by placing the image of reference ruler on point of corneal re-flex after cut off it on the same photograph.

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  Figure 2. Incidence rate of the significant change of palpebral fissure width at each follow up point.

Reference

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