Medial canthoplasty for optimum support of the lower eyelid in 14 patients.

BACKGROUND AND

OBJECTIVES

Medial canthoplasty surgically fuses the upper and lower lids medial to the puncta. The authors modified the procedure by inserting a temporary lacrimal stent in order to avoid kinking and scar contracture of the canaliculi.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

A medial canthoplasty successfully corrected lower eyelid laxity in 14 patients with the following conditions: (1) exposure and/or neurotrophic keratitis with medial ectropion and/or retraction of the lower eyelid (11 patients), and (2) inability to retain a prosthesis because of lower eyelid ectropion and contracture of the inferior conjunctival fornix (3 anophthalmic patients).

RESULTS

All patients had a satisfactory cosmetic result despite minimal vertical and horizontal narrowing of the palpebral fissure. Complications included partial wound dehiscence and pyogenic granuloma.

CONCLUSION

The modified medial canthoplasty described in this article corrects medial ectropion with minimal cosmetic deformity.