Is Lateral Tarsal Strip the Method of Choice in Treating Involutional Lower Eyelid Entropion?

Abstract

Lower eyelid entropion is malposition of the lower eyelid, potentially leading to loss of vision. The most common causes of entropion are involutional changes, less often cicatricial or paralysis factors. In order to treat involutional entropion there are multiple surgical techniques, referred to its cause, which may be vertical laxity, horizontal laxity or migration of orbicularis oculi muscle. Preoperative examination is the key to choosing proper technique. The most common surgical technique is Lateral Tarsal Strip, which refers to horizontal laxity, the main factor of involutional entropion. Although this technique is described as a successful method, when performed alone may not be sufficient. In order to increase the effectiveness and lower recurrent rate, there are combined methods, such as: everting sutures or lower eyelid retractor plication. This study aims to compare selected entropion surgical techniques and to present the effectiveness of combining Lateral Tarsal Strip with other methods. Described combined techniques may be the gold standard in the surgical treatment of involutional lower eyelid entropion.

Keywords

• involutional entropion
• lateral tarsal strip (lts)
• horizontal laxity
• vertical laxity
• everting sutures (es)
• retractor plication