The tarsal tuck procedure: avoiding eyelid retraction after lower blepharoplasty

Eyelid retraction and ectropion are the most common complications of lower blepharoplasty. These complications often occur as a result of removing excessive skin and muscle in the face of a lax lower eyelid. The tarsal tuck technique tightens and stabilizes the lower eyelid, thereby minimizing these complications. The lateral canthus and lower eyelid are elevated with the tarsal tuck, which reduces the amount of skin removal required and avoids the "round eye" appearance.     

Repairing defects of the lower eyelid with a free chondromucosal graft.

A method is presented for the repair of full-thickness defects of the eyelid. The lining and tarsal plate are replaced by a free chondromucosal graft from the nasal septum, in which the cartilage is thinned and perforated. Cover is provided by a compound, bipedicled flap of skin and muscle from the opposite lid.     

Correction of lower eyelid ptosis in the anophthalmic orbit: a long-term follow-up

We describe a 10-year review of 53 patients having had correction of lower eyelid ptosis using fascia lata sling suspension by the operation first described in 1973. The overall conclusion is that this continues to be a reliable procedure with a low complication rate. Four major changes relating to operative technique that create a better result are as follows: (1) the surgical correction must begin with a prosthesis that is ideal for the socket; (2) the fascial strip is narrower at 2 mm; (3) the lateral orbital rim burr hole is placed higher; and (4) the passage of the fascial strip is facilitated by the use of Wright's needle. The optimal sequence of operative procedures in the anophthalmic orbit syndrome is (1) correction of enophthalmos and superior sulcus depression, (2) correction of lower eyelid ptosis, and (3) correction of upper eyelid ptosis.     

A self-administered odor identification test procedure using the "Sniffin' Sticks"

Assessment of smell function in clinical routine is often limited due to a lack of time and/or costs of the personnel administering the test. The aim of the present study was to validate a procedure allowing for self-administered olfactory testing in a clinical setting. Seventy-four healthy subjects (13 male, 61 female) from 18 to 30 years of age (mean 20.3 years) were tested on 2 days (interval 7-21 days, mean 8.7 days) with 16 odors of the "Sniffin' Sticks" identification test kit. On one occasion, the test was administered by an examiner. On another occasion, subjects administered the test to themselves, with the odors being identified after they had been "painted" on a sheet of paper. No significant differences were obtained between the results from both test procedures. With a maximum score of 16, assisted testing yielded a mean score of 13.7 [standard deviation (SD) 1.3] while the self-administered procedure yielded an average score of 13.8 (SD = 1.5) (P = 0.72). The mean difference between the assisted and the self-administered smell test procedures was 0.05 (SD = 1.28). The 95% confidence interval of differences ranged from -2.51 to 2.61. These results suggest that odor identification with the Sniffin' Sticks can also be administered by the subjects themselves.