To evaluate the clinical efficacy of a reverse eyelid splitting technique that we performed in cases of trichiasis or distichiasis combined with entropion.

The study comprised 43 eyes of 31 patients with trichiasis or distichiasis combined with entropion treated from November 2004 to December 2005. After skin incision, the muscular layer and tarsus were reversely dissected to find abnormal follicles. The abnormal hair follicle was cauterized under the muscular layer, and 2~3 rotating sutures were done with Ethilon 6-0 to fix the tarsus and skin. Success was defined as having the meibomian gland located in front of the junction of skin and mucosa, without an abnormal hair protruding into the eye for at least three months.

Fifteen patients were male and sixteen patients were female. The mean age was 62.1±15.2 years. The patients were followed up for an average of 12.4±2.0 months after surgery. Surgery was successful in 74.4% (32 of the 43 eyelids) of the cases, and the recurrence rate was 25.6% (11 of the 43 eyelids). No severe complications occurred, such as infection, hemorrhage, wound dehiscence, or granuloma. However, foreign body sensation (1 eye) and eyelid notch (l eye) did occur.

This reverse eyelid splitting technique produced satisfactory results in both cosmetic and functional aspects. Moreover, it resulted in a low recurrence rate and low complication rate in patients with trichiasis or distichiasis combined with entropion.