To evaluate the factors that affect the eyelid height changes during the postoperative period in patients who underwent levator resection under local anesthesia.

Among the 242 patients that underwent levator resection under local anesthesia by the same surgeon between January on 1995 and December 2003, marginal reflex distance 1 (MRD₁) measurements were performed using a caliper in 91 patients who were followed for more than 3 months.

There were 36 males and 55 females, aged between 12 and 78 years (average of 33.6 years). The average follow-up period of the patients was 8.7 months (3 months ~ 58 months). During this period, 86 patients (94.5%) experienced satisfactory results. The average change in the MRD₁ of the eyelids preoperatively, during the operation, and 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year postoperatively were 0.8 mm, 3.9 mm, 3.0 mm, 2.7 mm, 2.5 mm, 2.4 mm, and 2.2 mm, respectively. The MRD₁ decreased 1.2 mm after 1 month and stabilized. When the levator function was greater than 8 mm, the height of the eyelids stabilized within 1 week. The worse the function of the levator palpebrae, such as in the case of congenital ptosis, the greater the correction was needed.

Levator resection under local anesthesia is a preferable method in adjusting the height of the eyelids. In a patient with poor levator function, a greater amount of correction is needed to achieve a satisfactory eyelid height.