Acquired Ankyloblepharon Correction Using Ocular Surface and Tarsal Mucous Membrane Grafting in Cicatrizing Ocular Surface Diseases.

Purpose: To report the long-term surgical outcomes of acquired ankyloblepharon correction using mucous membrane graft.

Methods: Five eyes of 4 patients (median age, 19 years) with acquired ankyloblepharon were managed using eyelid splitting and mucous membrane graft anchored to the recti muscles on the bulbar surface in the respective quadrant and onto the bare tarsal surface. Outcome measures include a change in the palpebral fissure width, ability to fit scleral contact lenses, visual acuity, and cosmesis.

Results: The underlying etiologies of ankyloblepharon were chronic Stevens-Johnson syndrome (n = 3), and chemical injury (n = 2). All 5 eyes had conjunctival shortening, and 3 had severe dry eyes (median Schirmer 4.5 mm). Four eyes had limbal stem cell deficiency. The median horizontal palpebral fissure width improved to 22 mm from 8 mm. This single-staged surgical technique allowed for fornix formation and prosthetic replacement of the ocular surface ecosystem lens fitting in all 5 eyes. Median logMAR visual acuity improved from 2.1 to 0.7 following ankyloblepharon release, prosthetic replacement of the ocular surface ecosystem lens fitting in 4 eyes, and keratoprosthesis in 1 eye. Repeat mucous membrane graft for recurrent symblepharon in 1 quadrant was required in 2 eyes where complete 360 degrees bulbar and tarsal conjunctiva loss were present preoperatively. At the median follow-up period of 27 months, all patients reported better cosmesis and had no symblepharon recurrence following repeat surgery in 2 eyes and single surgery in 3 eyes. The donor site healed well without any complications. No mitomycin C or symblepharon ring was used.

Conclusion: Ocular surface and adnexal reconstruction using bulbar and tarsal mucous membrane grafts help visually rehabilitate patients with acquired ankyloblepharon secondary to cicatrizing ocular surface disorders.