What Are the Steps Involved in an Eyelash Inversion Surgery?

The commonly used surgical procedure for trichiasis is the double-layer tarsal rotation surgery, which involves removing excess skin from the eyelids, marking specific points, determining the position of the double eyelid, and cutting the skin along the incision marks. Trichiasis often occurs in children, adolescents, and the elderly, mainly due to the growth of eyelashes in the opposite direction, leading to symptoms such as eye pain, redness, tearing, and photophobia. Currently, the most common solution is surgical treatment.

There are many different surgical methods to correct trichiasis, but one of them is the double-layer tarsal rotation surgery, which is relatively simple and has a high success rate. Surgical correction is based on the specific characteristics of the patient, including the length of the palpebral fissure, the shape of the eyelids, and the distance between the upper eyelid margin and the eyebrow. During the surgery, excess skin is removed according to the degree of skin laxity and entropion, and the width of the skin removal is determined based on factors such as palpebral fissure length, eyelid shape, and the distance between the upper eyelid margin and the eyebrow. A slightly curved wire is used to test the appropriate position for the double eyelid, and a meter ruler is used for marking the points.

The gentian violet is used to draw lines as markers, with the central point located 6mm from the eyelid margin, and the points between the inner canthus and the central point approximately 4mm from the eyelid margin. The outer point is positioned between the central and outer canthi, generally no lower than the midpoint or 0.5-1mm below it. The three points are then connected along the arc of the eyelid margin to observe if the double eyelid is appropriate, and the height of the double eyelid line from the eyelid margin is adjusted according to the length of the palpebral fissure.

The skin is cut along the incision marks, and if the upper eyelid skin is excessively loose, the incision is extended outward to the orbital margin. When reaching the outer canthus, the incision is made consistent with the crow's feet wrinkles of the outer canthus instead of continuing downward along the arc.