A new surgical technique for congenital distichiasis

PURPOSE: To describe a new technique to treat congenital distichiasis. METHODS: Case series of three distichiatic patients undergoing a novel surgical technique combining splitting of the lid margin with the distichiatic lashes, marginal tarsectomy in the affected area, and tarsoconjunctival graft obtained from the upper region of the tarsus. The graft was sutured at the exposed region of the marginal tarsectomy. RESULTS: Good cosmesis was obtained in all cases and the lids margins healed completely with good surgical outcome and no lashes contacted the cornea postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: The split lamellae with a composite tarsoconjunctival graft results in satisfactory functional and cosmetic outcomes. The upper tarsal region represents an ideal donor site.