Correction of Epiblepharon by Excision of Redundant skin and Pretarsal orbicularis muscle without tarsal fixation

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of the excision of redundant skin and pretarsal orbicularis muscle without tarsal fixation on the correction of the congenital epiblepharon. METHODS: We performed the surgery on 115 patients, 220 eyes from January 1996 to December 1999, and evaluated the functional, and cosmetic result. Surgical treatment included excision of redundant skin and pretarsal orbicularis muscle without tarsal fixation and simple skin suture technique. RESULTS: The mean age of the group was 7.2+/-6.8 years. There were 45 males and 70 females. Following the average follow up period of 18.4+/-4.5 months (minimum was 12 months), 212 eyes (96.4%) showed satisfactory result in functional and cosmetic aspect with of 8 eyes (3.6%) showed undercorrection early postoperativey but none underwent reoperation due to recurrences. CONCLUSIONS: This operative technique resulted in a good cosmetic and functional result.