External levator advancement vs Müller's muscle-conjunctival resection for correction of upper eyelid involutional ptosis.

PURPOSE To compare external levator advancement and Müller's muscle-conjunctival resection (conjunctivomullerectomy, or CJM) for correction of upper eyelid involutional ptosis. DESIGN Retrospective, nonrandomized, comparative interventional case series. METHODS Review of medical records of 159 patients (272 surgical procedures) who underwent external levator advancement or CJM was performed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Functional and cosmetic outcome, marginal reflex distance one (MRD1), and surgical complications. RESULTS A total of 159 patients (51 men, 108 women, mean age 70 years) underwent 272 surgical procedures for upper eyelid ptosis; concurrent blepharoplasty was performed in 141 cases. MRD1 increased an average of 1.6 (+/-1.5) mm, from 0.8 mm (+/-1.2) preoperatively to 2.3 mm (+/-1.2) postoperatively (P < .001). Fifteen patients (5.5%) underwent reoperation for residual ptosis, nine (18%) in the external levator advancement group, two (3%) in the CJM group, three (8%) in the external plus blepharoplasty group, and one (1%) in the CJM plus blepharoplasty group (P < .001). Patients who underwent external levator advancement had significantly more severe ptosis preoperatively but attained similar eyelid position postoperatively as compared with CJM patients. Complications included overcorrection in four cases (1.4%), lagophthalmos of 1 mm in 10 (3.6%), and pyogenic granuloma in two (<1%). CONCLUSIONS External levator advancement and CJM performed alone or with concurrent blepharoplasty are effective treatments for upper eyelid ptosis. Residual ptosis or postoperative eyelid retraction occurs in up to 20% of cases and can be addressed successfully with a second operation.