Some data on the pathogenesis of blepharochalasis

Blepharochalasis

Blepharochalasis is an uncommon disorder distinguished by recurrent episodes of eyelid oedema in young patients. A hypertrophic form, manifested as fat herniation, and an atrophic form, manifested as fat atrophy, have been described. Ptosis with excellent levator function, laxity of the lateral canthal structures with rounding of the lateral canthal angle, nasal fat pad atrophy, and redundant eyelid skin develop after many episodes of eyelid swelling. Fine wrinkling, atrophy, and telangiectasias characterise the excess eyelid skin. We describe four cases of this syndrome in which external levator aponeurosis tuck, blepharoplasty, lateral canthoplasty, and dermis fat grafts were used to correct atrophic blepharochalasis after the syndrome had run its course.

Floppy eyelid syndrome and blepharochalasis

Floppy eyelid syndrome and blepharochalasis may represent a spectrum of one underlying disease. Two patients with floppy eyelid syndrome and one with blepharochalasis shared important clinical similarities. All three patients displayed eyelid laxity associated with papillary conjunctivitis and ocular surface abnormalities. Histopathologic findings were similar in the three cases, characterized by chronic conjunctival inflammation with normal tarsal collagen. In all three patients surgical horizontal eyelid shortening led to improvement in symptoms and findings.

Blepharochalasis syndrome

Patients with chronic forms of blepharochalasis often develop eyelid deformities characterized by blepharoptosis and prolapse of the orbital fat and lacrimal gland. Some individuals have an acquired form of blepharophimosis, secondary to the dehiscence of the canthal tendons. In this late stage of the condition, the tendons still adhere to the periosteum of the orbital rims and loss of fixation occurs at the distal attachment between the tendons and the eyelid tissues. This results in a horizontally shortened palpebral fissure and a rounded deformity of the lateral canthal angle. Surgery remains the primary treatment.