Lateral Canthopexy in Lower Blepharoplasty: A Review Literature

Abstract

Background: Lower eyelid malposition is a known complication of lower (lid) blepharoplasty surgery.
The prevention of this complication is easier than its treatment. Over the past 10 years lot of patients have
had lower blepharoplasties with a canthopexy procedure and in some cases a tarsal strip canthoplasty. The
criterion for a lateral tarsal strip canthoplasty was a lid distraction distance greater than or equal to 10 mm.
Lid distraction distance is the distance the eyelid can be pulled away from the globe after the initial skin
incision has been made and measured with calipers. If the eyelid can be pulled away from the globe less than
10 mm, then a canthopexy is performed, which occurred in 98% of cases. Patients had lateral canthopexies
regardless of age or preoperative assessment. Herein, we describe a simple method of canthopexy that can
be performed on most patients having a lower blepharoplasty, to not only achieve a cosmetically superior
result but also to prevent eyelid malposition or ectropion.
Conclusion: We have described a simple prophylactic canthopexy suturing technique that all surgeons
performing lower blepharoplasty can do to prevent rounding or ectropion. Naturally, the more cases that are
done, the more accurate will be the eyelid position and adequacy of eyelid tension achieved. Lateral tarsal
strip canthoplasty is also used in more advanced cases of lid laxity.