Congenital lacrimal amniotocele

To report a very rare congenital lacrimal /disorder with controversy regarding its origin, difficulty in differential diagnosis, and management. Patients and methods: Six newborns with age range between two days and one month, were seen between 1986 and 1996. All had pinkish swellings inferior to the medial canthal tendon. One case was treated by hot soaks, massage, and local antibiotic. Two cases were seen with complicated mucoceles, and had developed erythema of the tissues overlying their distended lacrimal sacs. Those three patients were probed and irrigated under general anesthesia. The first of those three patients had bilateral congenital cataract, the other who presented with pointing infected sacs which were drained percutaneously Cultures from the aspirates of all sacs were done. None of the patients developed epiphora or needed probing later on. There was no fistula formation for those who were drained. In order to avoid inappropriate investigations and hasten treatment, congenital amniotocele must be diagnosed early and differentiated from other congenital masses in the area. Initially, amniotocele must be treated conservatively in the same way as congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction, but if the conservative treatment fails or if the patient is referred with infected sac, probing is recommended

Congenital ectropion syndrome

The aim of this paper is to report a very rare congenital eyelid abnormality, and to stress the fact that this abnormality may be part of other ocular or systemic disease. Patients and methods: Six patients were seen [five males and one female] in the ophthalmology clinic of Queen Alia Military Hospital [QAMH], The age at presentation ranged from two months to 10 years. Three patients had bilateral upper and lower lid ectropion as a result of eyelid skin shortage in the vertical dimension. One had unilateral upper and lower lid ectropion, and two had bilateral lower lid ectropion. Two patients needed surgical intervention. The first patient with Down's syndrome was doing well initially and he could close his eyes normally, the second operated patient has no more conjunctival congestion. Congenital ectropion must be differentiated from other similar eyelid abnormalities, and the diagnosed patients have to be examined regularly for the possibility of development of exposure keratopathy and subsequently corneal opacities and loss of vision