Superior rectus muscle insertion injury following cosmetic upper lid blepharoplasty: a case report

Background: Direct damage to the superior rectus (SR) muscle insertion following upper lid blepharoplasty has not been reported. We document a rare case of vertical diplopia due to direct damage to the SR muscle insertion following cosmetic upper lid blepharoplasty. Case presentation: We describe a case of 24-year-old woman with Asian eyelid. The patient had already undergone multiple cosmetic upper lid surgeries and complained of vertical diplopia immediately after her most recent surgery (levator resection with skin approach). Preoperatively, large-angle right hypotropia and severe upgaze limitation were present and noticeable ptosis was observed in the right eye. Intraoperatively, the SR muscle fibers were observed to be detached at the insertion site and severe fibrosis and adhesion surrounding the muscle was noted. After strabismus surgery, vertical strabismus was improved. Conclusions: This case can provide valuable insight to surgeons performing ptosis surgery and blepharoplasty, particularly in cases of reoperation. Surgeons should be careful while manipulating the levator muscle or resecting deep tissues not to affect the SR muscle.