Objective: To analyze the long-term results after the correction of the paralytic ectropion in leprosy.
Methods: Seventy-four patients with 115 paralytic ectropion eyes after leprosy were treated with the surgical procedures included medial canthoplasty, medial canthal tendon plication, lateral tarsal strip, medial canthal resection, lateral canthoplasty, and lid shortening. The results were evaluated with the follow-ups from 2 to 4 years.
Results: The eye-redness was reduced from 93 to 40 while the epiphora from 107 eyes (24 mild, 36 moderate and 47 severe) to 90 (40 mild, 32 moderate and 18 severe). The mean lid gap in mild eye closure was reduced from 6.8 mm to 5.3 mm and the cornea lesion was reduced from 53 to 36. The results were excellent in 18 eyes (15.7%), good in 45 eyes (39.1%), fair in 41 eyes (35.7%) and poor in 11 eyes (9.6%). However, the mean visual acuity remained same pre- and postoperatively.
Conclusions: Surgical correction of ectropion is helpful for cornea protection and could improve the signs and symptoms of the eyes such as epiphora and red [abstract truncated].