[Eyelid injuries].

Abstract

The eyelids not only protect the ocular globe, but also keep it wet and transparent. In the case of a palpebral wound the survival of the ocular globe is perhaps at stake. Corrective reconstruction of a palpebral wound must be considered as quickly as possible in order to restore eyelid shape and mobility. A facial emergency must be treated along the lines of an immediate reconstruction. A completely successful restoration must see to the prevention of complications associated, on one hand to poor adaptation of the wounded edge engendering a deformed eyelid, a coloboma at the free edge, malpositioning (entropion or ectropion), or an acquired ptosis. On the other hand, stenosis of the lacrymal canaliculus will lead to epiphora. Both complications present later difficulties for treatment.