J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2011 Dec;52(12):1385-1390. 10.3341/jkos.2011.52.12.1385.

Medial and Lateral Canthal Tendon Laxity: An Evaluation of Patients with Involutional Entropion and Epiphora

• Lee TE
• Lee H
• Lee J
• Baek S

• KMID: 2215139
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/jkos.2011.52.12.1385

Abstract

PURPOSE
The degree of laxity of the medial and lateral canthal tendon in Korean subjects with and without involutional entropion and epiphora was evaluated in the present study.
METHODS
The present study included 180 normal subjects (360 eyes), 12 patients (15 eyes) with involutional entropion, and 41 patients (58 eyes) with epiphora. The degree of laxity of the medial and lateral canthal tendon, which grades the position of the inferior punctum, was measured using the lateral and medial distraction test.
RESULTS
The mean degree of medial and lateral canthal tendon laxity was 1.83/1.08 in normal subjects. A statistical difference was not observed between sexes, and the mean degree of laxity tended to be higher in older patients. The mean degree of laxity was 2.78/2.18 and 2.28/1.22 in the involutional entropion group and the epiphora group, respectively. The involutional entropion group and the epiphora group underwent endoscopic endonasal dacryocystitis (D), medial spindle procedure (M), and endoscopic endonasal dacryocystitis with the medial spindle procedure and/or the tarsal strip procedure (T). The mean degree of laxity was 1.84/1.04 in group D, 3.00/1.20 in group M, 2.33/2.00 in group D + T, 3.20/1.40 in group D + M and 3.50/2.00 in group D + T + M before surgery.
CONCLUSIONS
The results from the present study may aid in the selection of a basic treatment plan for Korean patients with involutional entropion or epiphora.

Keyword

Entropion; Epiphora; Laxity

MeSH Terms

Dacryocystitis
Entropion
Humans
Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases
Tendons

Figure

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  Figure 1. Lateral and medial distraction test for grading of medial and lateral canthal tendon laxity. (A) A photograph showing left lower lid laxity at resting state. (B) Lower lid lateral distraction test showing grade 2 medial canthal tendon laxity. (C) Lower lid medial distraction test showing grade 2 lateral canthal tendon laxity. The white arrow indicates the position of the punctum and the black arrow indicates the direction of the distraction test.

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  Figure 2. Medial and lateral canthal tendon laxity grades. (A) Grades of medial canthal tendon laxity. ①: Vertical midline between the medial limbus and the lateral border of the plica ②: Medial limbus ③: Vertical line of the medial border of the pupil ④: Vertical midline of the pupil. (B) Grades of lateral canthal tendon laxity. ①: Vertical midline of the caruncle ②: Medial canthal skin margin. The thin arrow indicates the position of the punctum and the thick arrow indicates the direction of the distraction test.

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  Figure 3. Mean canthal tendon laxity according to age range in the control group. ∗ p < 0.05 compared with the mean canthal tendon laxity in the 20-29 age group.

Reference

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