AIM: To observe and compare efficacy of the lower eyelid twitch shift joint outer canthal ligament shortening surgery and orbicularis muscle resection surgery to treat degenerative entropion.

METHODS: Patients with degenerative entropion in our hospital were selected. The test group was 40 cases(70 eyes), of which double eyes with attack(30 cases), and lower eyelid twitch shift joint outer canthal ligament shortening surgery was applied to the test group. Control group was 20 cases(26 eyes), of which double eyes with attack(6 cases), and the control group was used by orbicularis muscle resection surgery. The correction rate, double eyelid symmetry and overcorrection rate were observed in two groups at postoperative 1wk. The long- term recurrence rate, double eyelid symmetry and overcorrection rate with follow-up 6mo were observed.

RESULTS: After 1wk, the correction rate of experimental group 98.6%,undercorrection rate of that was 1.4%, all the eyelid was symmetry, only one eye with a slight overcorrection. Correction rate of control group was 92.3%; all the eyelid was symmetry, and the poor rate of this group was 7.7%. After 6mo, correction rate of experimental group was 95.2%; undercorrection rate of experimental group was 3.2%, and overcorrection rate was 1.6%. Correction rate of control group was 87%, and 2 eyes of recurrence, 1 eye with a poor overcorrection. Double eyelid was symmetry, overcorrection rate difference was not statistically significant(P>0.05), and the correction rate were significantly different(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: Compared toorbicularis muscle resection surgery, postoperative recurrence rate of lower eyelid twitch shift joint outer canthal ligament shortening surgery is significantly lowered.