Correlation of Levator Palpebrae Superioris and Dry Eye Disease

Abstract

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate the effect of levator palpebrae superioris in patients with dry eye disease. Methods: 168 eyes of 84 patients (group 1= levator function ≤9 mm, 78 eyes; group 2= levator function >9 mm, 90 eyes) who have been diagnosed with ptosis were retrospectively enrolled. Levator function test, Ocular Surface Disease Index Questionnaire (OSDI), Schirmer I test, noninvasive tear break up time (NItBUT), corneal staining score, meibography, meibum quality and expressibility scores, tear meniscus height, and partial blinking rate (PBR) were examined. Results: PBR and NItBUT in group 2 (9.29 ± 4.01 and 4.76 ± 2.39, respectively) were significantly worse than those in group 1 (5.88 ± 3.99 and 5.78 ± 2.94, respectively) (P<0.05). There was a significantly positive correlation between levator function and partial blinking rate (R=0.4114, P=0.0002). Meibum expressibility and lipid thickness in group 2 (0.48 ± 0.70 and 1.12 ± 0.33, respectively) were significantly better than those in group 1 (1.29 ± 0.65 and 1.39 ± 0.45, respectively) (P<0.05) (Figure 3). There was a significantly negative correlation between levator function and meibum expressibility grade (R=0.4114, P=0.0002) (Figure 2). Conclusion: The eyes with good levator function showed shorter tear break-up time due to a higher partial blinking rate, but showed better lipid thickness due to better meibum expressibility compared with the eyes with fair levator function.