Lateral tarsal strip procedure for involutional ectropion: A retrospective analysis of 85 cases and a comprehensive literature review

PURPOSE: To evaluate the postoperative effect of the lateral tarsal strip (LTS) procedure in treating lower eyelid involutional ectropion. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed on 85 eyelids in 67 patients with involutional ectropion who underwent LTS procedure. Pre- and postoperative lower eyelid laxity and ocular symptoms as well as perioperative complications were evaluated. Snap back test was performed to evaluate the elasticity of lateral canthal tendon loosening and, a lower lid distraction test was performed to evaluate the degree of severity before surgery. Ocular surface diseases were evaluated by the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), and symptoms including conjunctivitis, corneal ulcer, dry eye syndrome, and ocular pain were recorded. All patients were evaluated within one week and during the follow-up period of 4.2 ​± ​8.3 months. Furthermore, we reviewed the studies that also investigated the surgical effect of the LTS procedure in the literature from 1979 to 2019. RESULTS: The success rate was 95%. Only four eyelids required a second surgical intervention. Seventy-three (86%) eyelids had an excellent position after surgery, 9 (11%) only little improvement, and three had no improvement. No significant difference was found in the postoperative effects between different degrees of ectropion (p ​> ​0.05). No statistical correlation was found between surgical improvements and the ectropion severity (P ​> ​0.05). Fifty-two out of 85 eyes had no discomfort after the surgery. Mild complications included epiphora in 13 eyes (three cases caused by lacrimal punctum eversion), ocular pain in 12 eyes, wound hemorrhage in 12 eyes, and edema in 9 eyelids immediately after surgery, in which 91.2% (n ​= ​21) disappeared within one week and did not need any further treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The lateral tarsal strip procedure can provide an aesthetically pleasing result for correcting the mild to moderate lower eyelid ectropion while maintaining decent eyelid function.