Efficacy and complications of the transconjunctival entropion repair for lower eyelid involutional entropion

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of the transconjunctival entropion repair (TCER) for lower eyelid involutional entropion. Design: Retrospective, noncomparative, interventional case series. Participants: One hundred fifty-one eyelids in 120 patients who underwent TCER for involutional entropion over a 12-year period from February 1991 through January 2003. Methods: Surgical technique addressed all 3 anatomic factors underlying the entropion and was performed through a transconjunctival incision. Lateral tarsal strip procedure addressed horizontal eyelid laxity, lower eyelid retractor reinsertion addressed retractor disinsertion, and excision of a strip of the preseptal orbicularis oculi addressed preseptal orbicularis override. Main Outcome Measures: Entropion resolution, entropion recurrence, postoperative eyelid retraction, and complication rate. Results: Transconjunctival entropion repair resulted in resolution of entropion, with a success rate of 96.7% (146 of 151 eyelids); entropion recurrence rate was 3.3% (5 of 151 eyelids). No patient had postoperative eyelid retraction or scleral show, and there were no overcorrections or secondary ectropions in any of the 151 eyelids. Postoperative complications occurred in 6 of 151 eyelids (4.0%) of 6 of 120 patients (5.0%) and included stitch abscess (1 eyelid, 0.7%), lateral tarsal strip dehiscence (2 eyelids, 1.3%), lateral canthal dystopia (2 eyelids, 1.3%), and conjunctivochalasis (1 eyelid, 0.7%). Conclusions: The transconjunctival lower eyelid entropion repair is effective and safe with low recurrence and complication rates. The TCER circumvents the risk of lower eyelid retraction and overcorrections that may occur with the transcutaneous approach.