The Margaret-Thatcher Effect: Why we prefer to evaluate an upright-face during ptosis surgery
Author: Daniel Ovid Black
Base Hospital / Institution: Université Laval, Québec, Québec
ePoster presentation
Abstract ID: 25-476
Purpose
The Margaret-Thatcher Effect (or illusion) relates to superior detection of facial abnormalities when the face is viewed from an upright position. When the face is inverted, facial anomalies may go undetected. When applied to ptosis surgery, this phenomenon may explain our tendency to stand and evaluate the patient’s face from an upright perspective.
Methods
We surveyed Canadian oculoplastic surgeons to determine the frequency with which our colleagues stood to view the patient’s face in an upright position while finalizing adjustments in ptosis surgery.
Results
19 of 25 (76%) of Oculoplastic surgeons admitting to adopting this strategy during ptosis surgery.
Conclusion
There appears to be a preference among Canadian Oculoplastic surgeons to view the patient’s face from an upright perspective during ptosis surgery. We hypothesize that facial recognition is a hard-wired neurological phenomenon. The results of our survey appear to be related to the Margaret-Thatcher Effect.
Additional Authors
| First name | Last name | Base Hospital / Institution |
|---|---|---|
| Laurence | Bussières | Université Laval, Québec, Québec |
