DISTICHIASIS - MANAGEMENT WITH CRYOTHERAPY TO THE POSTERIOR LAMELLA

Distichiasis is the congenital condition of partial or complete access ory rows of eyelashes which exit from the posterior lid margin at or n ear the meibomian gland orifices. A series of 24 patients with distich iasis is presented with clinical features and results of treatment. Th e treatment modes of epilation, lid margin cryotherapy, or eyelid spli tting cryotherapy to the posterior lamella are evaluated. The latter w as found to effectively relieve symptoms without retreatment in 87% pa tients. Keratinisation of the lid margin was found at long term follow up in a few cases and retinoic acid has been used successfully in the treatment of this. Two previously unreported associations of distichi asis are Pierre Robin syndrome and idiopathic eyelid oedema. A family history of distichiasis was found in 50% patients, and of distichiasis with lymphoedema in 30%.