Long-term Outcome of Incision and Curettage Treatment in Patients with Lacrimal Gland Ductulitis

PURPOSE: To describe the effects and long-term outcomes of incision and curettage treatment in patients with lacrimal gland ductulitis.METHODS: Twenty-four patients (24 eyes) with lacrimal gland ductulitis who were treated at Saevit Eye Hospital from June 2010 to November 2016. All patients underwent incision and curettage through the lacrimal ductule, and granules or concretions were removed. After the procedure, oral and topical antibiotics, oral anti-inflammatory agent were used for a week. Clinical presentations of the patients were analyzed. The resolution of symptoms and inflammatory signs and recurrence were evaluated more than 12 months after the procedure including telephone follow-up by a specialist nurse.RESULTS: Common symptoms were a painful, swelling mass with mucous discharge (17 eyes) and conjunctival injection (7 eyes) at the lateral canthal area. During the procedure, 22 patients (91.7%) had typical sulfur granule of Actinomyces, and 10 patients (41.7%) had many cilia in the expressed debris from the ductule. Twenty-three of 24 patients had resolution of symptoms after the procedure and all but one patient (95.8%) showed no recurrence.CONCLUSIONS: Incision and curettage is a simple and less invasive procedure that may be considered as a first treatment option for lacrimal gland ductulitis. Furthermore, incision and curettage of the affected lacrimal ductule has been shown to be effective at minimizing long-term recurrence of lacrimal ductulitis.

Classification and management of eyelid disorders

The eyelids can be affected by various congenital, acquired, infectious, inflammatory, neoplastic, and traumatic conditions. The eyelid is not simply made up of skin, but is a complex anatomical structure. The various structures that support and protect the eyeball are gathered together in narrow spaces. Therefore, the disorders that can occur in the eyelids vary depending on the structures affected. The eyeball can be directly and indirectly influenced by each of these disorders. Thus, each eyelid disorder occurs within the frame of the corresponding anatomical structure, and must be precisely understood and treated accordingly.

Correction of Diffuse Trichiasis Using Eyelid Margin Splitting Combined with Cilia Rotation Suture

PURPOSE: In the present study, we introduced and evaluated the effectiveness of eyelid margin splitting combined with cilia rotation suture performed in simplified steps resulting in minimized complications in diffuse trichiasis. METHODS: A retrospective review of medical records was performed on 31 eyelids of 21 patients with diffuse trichiasis. The patients had trichiasis of more than 1/3 of eyelid margin and received eyelid margin splitting combined with cilia rotation suture at our hospital. The patients did not have eyelid or lid margin abnormalities and were followed up more than 6 months after surgical correction. A telephone survey of the surgical outcomes including cosmetic satisfaction and recurrence was conducted in patients who did not visit at postoperative 12 months. Success was defined as complete resolution of symptoms and acceptable cosmesis at final visit. RESULTS: The patients included 2 males (3 eyes) and 19 females (28 eyes) with an average age of 54.5 ± 18.3 years (range, 19.2–82.4 years). The mean follow-up period was 15.3 ± 5.6 months (range, 10–35 months). Cornea or conjunctiva irritation symptoms by misdirected eyelash were resolved in all eyelids; 3 eyelids with recurred trichiasis required additional electrolysis to remove irritating cilia resulting in an overall success rate of 90.3%. CONCLUSIONS: For patients with diffuse trichiasis, an eyelid margin splitting combined with cilia rotation suture performed in simplified surgical steps showed excellent results resolving irritating symptoms with very low recurrence rate and high cosmetic satisfaction.

Long-term Results of Interrupted Buried Suture Method Using Non-absorbable Material for Involutional Lower Lid Entropion

PURPOSE: To introduce and evaluate the long-term effectiveness of interrupted buried suture using non-absorbable material in involutional lower lid entropion. METHODS: A total of 105 adult involutional lower lid entropion patients (135 eyes) from January 2010 to January 2015 with or without the horizontal laxity, and without a history of previous surgical treatment were included. Exclusion criteria included patients with cicatricial entropion, epiblepharon, history of previous lower lid surgery, and follow-up period less than 3 months. The central and lateral areas below the lower lid margin and below the inferior tarsal margin were connected by non-absorbable interrupted buried suture. Results were analyzed by objective outcome using measurements from clinical photographs, subjective outcome using improvements of patients' symptom and cosmetic satisfactions. RESULTS: This study included 135 eyelids. Pre-operative distraction test revealed horizontal laxity in 37 eyes (27.4%). The mean age was 79.50 years and the mean period of follow-up was 34.51 ± 3.8 months. In 133 eyelids (98.5%), post-operative lid positions have everted. Score of symptom improvements were 9.44 (0 to 10 scale). 99 patients (94.3%) were cosmetically satisfied. No surgical complications were observed. Although we had two recurred cases (1.5%), one with horizontal laxity (2.7%) and one without horizontal laxity (1.0%), reoperation was not performed due to mild subjective discomfort. CONCLUSIONS: For patients with involutional entropion regardless of horizontal laxity, a simple interrupted buried suture method using non-absorbable suture material showed excellent long term results in very low recurrence rate and high cosmetic satisfaction.