Eyelid injuries are a common emergency room challenge in patients presenting with history of road traffic accidents. Overzealous debridement can result in tissue loss in which primary repair becomes impossible along with loss of critical landmarks especially in tissue as fragile as the eyelids. We present a 45-year-old male with avulsion injury of the right lower eyelid compounded by debridement at a primary health care facility. Nasolabial flap reconstruction was done with release of the bulbar conjunctiva to achieve aesthetic and functional endpoints. Adhering to the fundamental guidelines of repair of the eyelids as a primary and definitive surgery holds the crux to the best cosmetic and functional outcome.
Keywords: Debridement; Eyelid avulsion; Eyelid reconstruction; Nasolabial flap; Road traffic accident.