Repair of a Full-Thickness Defect of the Lower Eyelid Margin

Ectropion is defined as an eversion of the upper or lower eyelid away from the globe. Classes of ectropion include involutional, cicatricial, paralytic, and mechanical. Ectropic eyelids develop from horizontal eyelid laxity, medial canthal tendon laxity, vertical skin tightness, neuromuscular dysfunction, and lower eyelid retractor disinsertion. Ocular complications associated with ectropic eyelids include corneal exposure and scarring, conjunctivitis, ocular discomfort, photophobia, epiphora, and decreased vision. The entire face and eye should be carefully examined when a patient presents with ectropion. A systemic approach enables the physician to more fully understand the underlying disease process and best therapeutic approach. Ectropion can be quantified by pulling the central portion of the lid anteriorly and measuring the number of millimeters from the anterior cornea to the apex of the eyelid. Ectropion etiology can be elucidated by evaluating for horizontal eyelid laxity, orbicularis dysfunction, vertical skin tightness, and lower eyelid retractors disinsertion. Horizontal eyelid laxity is typically a result of lateral or medial canthal tendon stretching. Laxity of the canthal tendons produces a redundancy in the eyelid tissues, resulting in ectropion, often referred to as an involutional ectropion. Lateral canthal tendon status can be determined by gently pulling the eyelid nasally. The inferior crus of the tendon can then be palpated to evaluate for dehiscence. The medial canthal tendon can be evaluated by pulling laterally and noting the displacement of the inferior punctum. The severity of canthal tendon laxity should be quantified prior to any surgical intervention. 8-2-1 Lateral Canthal Tendon Laxity and the Lateral Tarsal Strip Procedure. Although a variety of methods have been advocated for treatment of lateral canthal tendon laxity, we prefer the lateral tarsal strip, introduced by Anderson. This procedure corrects the underlying anatomic abnormality, does not require reapproximation of the eyelid margin, and is relatively easy to perform. The lateral canthal region is injected with lidocaine 2% mixed with 1:100,000 epinephrine using a 27- or 30-gauge needle. After ensuring appropriate anesthesia, Stevens scissors are used to create a lateral canthotomy and exposure of the lateral orbital rim.

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Management of Entropion and Trichiasis

Surgery of the Eyelid, Lacrimal System, and Orbit ◽

10.1093/oso/9780195340211.003.0012 ◽

2011 ◽

Author(s):

David H. Verity ◽

Geoffrey E. Rose

Keyword(s):

Ocular Surface ◽

Lower Eyelid ◽

Complete Loss ◽

Secondary Effects ◽

Orbicularis Muscle ◽

Eyelid Margin ◽

Ocular Irritation ◽

Age Related ◽

Causative Factors ◽

Gentle Traction

Entropion is a posterior rotation of the upper or lower lid margin against the globe; the causes include involutional changes within the eyelid tissues or cicatricial shortening of the posterior lamella of the eyelid. Congenital lower lid entropion is rare and results from an excess of skin and orbicularis oculi muscle being only loosely attached to the eyelid retractors. The symptoms of entropion—which include ocular irritation, lid spasm, pain, redness, and watering—are worse in the presence of a keratinized lid margin (occurring in cicatricial disease) and where the ocular surface is compromised. Discomfort may lead to secondary blepharospasm, which exacerbates the entropion by causing the preseptal part of the orbicularis muscle to override the pretarsal component. The eyelids and globe should be examined to identify underlying causative factors—in particular the degree and position of tissue laxity, the position of the eyelid margin and lashes, and the thickness of the tarsus. Any secondary effects of entropion, both within the lid and on the ocular surface, should also be noted. 7-1-1 Tissue Laxity. Aging of collagen and the force of gravity leads to eyelid laxity and an excess of tissues, particularly the anterior lamella of the lid. Stretching of the orbicularis muscle and canthal tendons results in horizontal laxity, and eyelid stability is further compromised by enophthalmos due to age-related fat atrophy. Where there is a relative dissociation between the anterior and posterior lamellae, the preseptal orbicularis muscle overrides the pretarsal muscle, leading to eyelid inversion, and this effect is exacerbated both by laxity of the lower lid retractors and age-related tarsal atrophy. Tissue laxity in the absence of orbicularis overriding tends to cause ectropion; with complete loss of retractor action, this can result in complete eversion of the tarsus (“shelf ectropion”). Horizontal laxity of the eyelid tissues is assessed by grasping the lid skin and applying gentle traction in the appropriate direction. The overall horizontal laxity is judged by the extent to which the eyelid can be parted from the globe—greater than about 6 mm is abnormal for a lower eyelid—and by the speed with which the retracted lid returns to the surface of the globe (the “spring-back” test).

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