Blepharoptosis following ocular surgery: identifying risk factors.

Overview

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To evaluate the incidence of blepharoptosis following ocular surgical procedures, to elucidate mechanisms for its cause, and to identify potential risk factors for ocular surgeons to avoid. RECENT FINDINGS: Postoperative blepharoptosis has been a poorly understood concept. In the search for a definitive cause, various technical components of surgery have been implicated. Recent research highlights the importance of individual anatomy and proposes new mechanisms for postoperative ptosis, including excessive eyelid tension from specula, topical prostaglandin analogue use, and direct trauma at the level of the tarsal plate. SUMMARY: Blepharoptosis is common following ocular surgery and can occur through multiple mechanisms. Certain individuals are at a higher risk for postoperative blepharoptosis, but all surgeons and patients undergoing ocular surgery should understand this risk when providing informed consent. Operative techniques can be adjusted to decrease rates of postoperative blepharoptosis.