Banking Autologous Tarsus: A Simple Technique for Maximizing Preservation of Healthy Tissue

Abstract

A 28-year-old female with congenital left-sided ptosis presented after 3 prior surgeries elsewhere. Although centrally her margin to reflex distance1 was 3 mm, persistent ptosis was noted laterally. In an effort to improve the symmetry of her eyelid contour, a lateral tarsectomy was performed. As the authors worried this might worsen her dryness, the decision was made to bank the excised tarso-conjunctival tissue in case additional revision surgery is required at a later date. To accomplish this, a conjunctival incision was created at the inferior tarsal margin in the ipsilateral lower lateral eyelid and the excised upper eyelid tarso-conjunctival tissue was secured in this pocket. Four months postoperatively, the banked tissue appeared healthy and the upper eyelid contour was improved. This technique may be most helpful in multi-operated situations, where the chance of future revision is not insignificant.