Age-Related Functional Decline of the Orbicularis Oculi: Insights from Surface Electromyography and Ultrastructural Analysis
Author: Larysa Krajewska-Węglewicz
Base Hospital / Institution: Department of Ophthalmology, National Institute of MEdicine of the Ministry of Interior and Administration in Warsaw
ePoster presentation
Abstract ID: 25-173
Purpose
With aging, the orbicularis oculi muscle undergoes changes that can impair eyelid function, contributing to issues such as lagophthalmos, disruptions in tear film stability, and cosmetic concerns like wrinkles, festoons, and tissue sagging. However, a comprehensive analysis of the structural and functional alterations associated with orbicularis aging remains lacking. This study aims to evaluate functional changes through surface electromyography (sEMG) and examine their relationship with ultrastructural modifications in the aging orbicularis muscle.
Methods
A total of 26 patients aged between 37 and 78 years, all diagnosed with dermatochalasis, participated in the study. They were categorized into two age groups: those under 60 and those aged 60 or older. Both sEMG recordings and electron microscope analyses of the orbicularis muscle were conducted. The sEMG data were then compared to the degree of ultrastructural changes observed.
Results
The older age group showed significantly reduced average voluntary contraction and root mean square (RMS) values in sEMG readings compared to the younger group (p=0.029 and p=0.045, respectively). However, the extent of muscle fiber damage did not show a significant association with age (χ²(2)=2.86, p>.05), nor was there a clear correlation between contraction strength and ultrastructural alterations in either group (Spearman’s coefficients: 0.06923 and 0.64366).
Conclusion
Surface electromyography serves as a useful tool for assessing age-related functional decline in the orbicularis oculi. The findings suggest that although aging leads to reduced muscle function, this decline is not necessarily driven by ultrastructural muscle fiber damage. This study is the first to explore the relationship between structural and functional changes in the orbicularis among dermatochalasis patients across different age groups.
Additional Authors
| First name | Last name | Base Hospital / Institution |
|---|---|---|
| Paulina | Felczak | Department of Neuropathology, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Warsaw |
| Małgorzata | Dorobek | Department of Neurology, National Institute of Medicine of the Ministry of Interior and Administration |
