This study was designed to examine if patients undergoing the same operative procedure (blepharochalasis operation) have different subjective recognition of dry eye problems depending n whether they had he operation for cosmetic or medical reasons.
The study included 32 patients (25 women, 7 men, mean age 57.8 +/- 12.1 years), who underwent blepharochalasis operation between 1/2005 and 5/2005. In 17 patients (group 1) the operation was done for cosmetic reasons, in 15 patients we found a medical indication (group 2). We evaluated the subjective discomfort from the lid problems as well as the satisfaction with the operation in general and pre- or postoperative recognition of dry eye problems (all done by scales). Additionally we measured tear secretion by Schirmer's test and break-up time before and after operation.
The subjective recognition of a dry eye was stronger in group 1 than in group 2 before and after operation (p < 0.005), but objective data were nearly identically (BUT, Schirmer's test).
When operated due to cosmetic reasons the stronger recognition of sicca problems (while objectively lacking) is may be caused by a stronger fixation on the lid disease itself. It seems necessary to document objective data for that reason.