A Lateral Approach to Lower Eyelid Entropion Repair

Abstract

The authors describe a simple technique that highlights the use of the sagittal anatomy of the lower eyelid to aid identification of the retractors during involutional entropion repair. This anatomy is exposed following lateral canthotomy and inferior cantholysis. The orbital septum is seen to enclose the fat pad and fuse with the retractors above it prior to insertion into the tarsus. The septum, orbicularis, and skin are incised from the lateral approach, allowing exposure of the retractors for tarsal reattachment, and the procedure is completed with a lateral tarsal strip. Forty-eight procedures in 42 patients with involutional entropion were performed using this technique and 90% and 89% of primary and recurrent entropion, respectively, were successfully repaired. Mean operating time was 30 minutes. The lateral approach to a standard procedure for entropion repair can reduce operating time and technical difficulty.