Acellular Dermal Allograft for the Correction of Eyelid Retraction

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of acellular human dermis (AlloDerm) as a spacer graft in the correction of eyelid retraction. METHODS: We used acellular human dermis (AlloDerm) as a spacer in 8 patients with eyelid retraction. Two patients had upper eyelid retraction and 6 had lower eyelid retraction. The causes of the former were congenital (1) and ptosis operation (1), and of the latter were strabismus surgery (1), necrotizing blepharitis (1), blow-out fracture (1), anophthalmic socket contracture (1), cicatricial entropion (1), and lower lid blepharoplasty (1). The follow-up period ranged from 5 to 14 months (mean 9 months). RESULTS: Surgical results in 7 eyelids were satisfactory. There was mild overcorrection in one eyelid with congenital upper eyelid retraction. There were no other complications such as exposure, infection, or rejection. CONCLUSIONS: AlloDerm was easy to manipulate, closely approximated the eyelid tarsus in contour and thickness, and appeared to be nontoxic and nonallergenic. We suggest AlloDerm as the spacer material of choice for the treatment of eyelid retraction.