EYELID SPLITTING WITH EXCISION OR MICROHYFRECATION FOR DISTICHIASIS

Distichiasis is a rare congenital or acquired condition in which an ac cessory row of eyelashes arises from the posterior lamella of the eyel id margin. Previously described surgical techniques to treat distichia sis can result in complications including trichiasis, loss of normal e yelashes, cicatricial entropion, and eyelid margin deformities. We des cribe a new technique in which the eyelid margin is split to expose th e distichiasis eyelash follicles. Each aberrant eyelash follicle is in dividually excised or microhyfrecated and then removed. Seventeen eyel ids in 5 patients with congenital or acquired distichiasis have been t reated. We have achieved excellent functional and cosmetic results usi ng this new technique.