Effectiveness of lash rotating sutures for the correction of Congenital Epiblepharon

 

Irimpan Lazar FRANCIS, Ramalingam MOHAN, Nayan JOSHI, Nadir Ali MOHAMED ALI

Department of Ophthalmology, RIPAS Hospital, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam

 

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Epiblepharon is a congenital or acquired eyelid anomaly that commonly affect Asian children. It occurs more in the lower eyelid. The aim of this study was to establish the effectiveness of lash rotating sutures applied to the subcutaneous tissue of the upper skin flap and anchored to the lower tarsus with minimal excision of orbicularis under the lower flap. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective study over a period of three years. The same surgical procedure was adopted in all our cases and the outcome was evaluated. Results: There were 19 patients (a total of 38 eyes), 15 of which (79%) were females with mean age of 8.8 ± 2.8 years (range 5-15). All patients had only lower eyelid involvement; 14 (28 eyes) with full length involvement and five (10 eyes) with medial and middle third lower lid epiblepharon. Eleven (58%) had very long cilia and eight (42%) had long cilia. All patients had their cilia oriented vertically and thick touching cornea. Epicanthus was noted in 14 (74%) of our epiblepharon cases. All (100%) had absence lid crease and complete lid closure. None had lid laxity or lid retraction. Bell’s phenomenon was good in all patients. All were symptomatic and some of them had corneal involvement, such as punctuate epitheliopathy and/or scarring. After the procedure, all patients had complete recovery from lash corneal contact and symptom relief on follow up, ranging between one to three years. Conclusion: The study revealed that subcutaneous lash rotating sutures were sufficient for excellent correction of epiblepharon with complete relief of symptoms.

 

Keywords: Epiblepharon, congenital, eyelash, management

 

Correspondence author: Irimpan Lazar FRANCIS

Department of Ophthalmology, RIPAS Hospital, Bandar Seri Begawan, BA1710, Brunei Darussalam.

Tel: +673-8772253

E mail: fril50@hotmail.com

 

Brunei Int Med J. 2014; 10 (3): 133-137

 

 

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