The use of the orbital septum in inferior palpebral reconstruction: the pocket technique.

Background: Surgery involving massive inferior palpebral demolition often imposes the use of free flaps for the reconstruction of the anterior and posterior lamellae.

Purpose: We describe a surgical technique which provides for the use of a homologous pedunculated elastic flap on which we wrap the free flap as in a pocket, in order to guarantee that the free flap itself takes root better.

Methods: A study of 10 patients admitted to our hospitals for massive inferior palpebral demolition surgery between March 2002 and November 2004 was undertaken, and clinical records (age, sex, involved site of lesions, surgery technique) were accurately noted: in all patients we performed the 'pocket technique'.

Photorefractive keratectomy in high myopic defects with or without intraoperative mitomycin C: 1-year results.

Purpose: To study the results of the prophylactic use of mitomycin C (MMC) to reduce haze formation and refractive regression after excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) for high myopic defects (>5 diopters).

Methods: Prospective, consecutive, observational study. A total of 124 eyes of 62 patients were divided into two groups of 31 patients, 62 eyes each (Groups A and B).

Stenosis of the lachrymal system in Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome.

In this article the authors describe a case of atypical stenosis of the lachrymal excretory system in Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome (RTS) characterised by morphologic anomalies of the lachrymal bag and by alterations of the osseous structure of the nose. A 9-year-old girl, with typical findings of RTS, was affected by recurrent acute dacryocystitis and tearing. Ocular examination revealed bilateral reflux with mucous and purulent material flowing back after digital pressing: low and bilateral nose-lachrymal duct obstruction was the main cause of the reflux as confirmed by orifice probing, lachrymal drainage system irrigation and spiral CT examination using hydrosoluble contrast medium.

Involutional entropion surgery: a modified technique.

Purpose: A study to evaluate the effectiveness of a modified procedure to correct involutional entropion.

Methods: Seventeen cases of involutional entropion underwent surgery and had a postoperative follow-up of 18 months. The authors describe a technique of vertically shortening the anterior lamella (skin and orbicularis muscle), using a blepharoplasty incision and reflection of a skin muscle flap.