Efficacy of Inverted "V" Release Surgery in the Correction of a Special Type of Epicanthus.

[OBJECTIVE] To evaluate the efficacy of a new correction method (inverted "V" release surgery) for epicanthus as a cause of congenital entropion/trichiasis in the lower eyelid.

[METHODS] From May 2014 to May 2017, 60 eyes of 30 patients (13 male and 17 female patients, with the age of 6.85 ± 4.52 years underwent inverted "V" release surgery to correct epicanthus. The incision in the epicanthus and entropion was continuous. Lower eyelid entropion/trichiasis was corrected by a two-layered suture. We separately assessed the width of the palpebral fissure, exposed ratio of the lacrimal caruncle, eyelash direction, and incision scar at one and 6 months after surgery.

[RESULTS] All patients were followed up for 6-18 months. At 6 months after surgery, the palpebral fissure width of all patients was extended by 3-4 mm. The ratio of the exposed lacrimal caruncle was enhanced from 0.24 ± 0.22 to 0.75 ± 0.08. All patients presented with natural inner canthal angles, and their eyelashes clearly extended outward, with a 100% total effective rate. The inner canthal incision scars in 83% of patients were invisible 6 months after surgery.

[CONCLUSION] Based on our experience, both functionality and aesthetics can be obtained by using inverted "V" release surgery to correct a special type of epicanthus that aggravates congenital entropion/trichiasis in the lower eyelid. Thus, this technique is suitable for clinical application.

[LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV] This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .