Efficacy of lid everting suture in the management of involutional lower eyelid entropion using 4-0 silk versus 4-0 chromic catgut.

BACKGROUND involutional lower eyelid entropion is a common ophthalmic condition requiring surgical correction. OBJECTIVE to compare the efficacy of lid everting sutures in the management ofinvolutional lower lid entropion using 4-0 silk versus 4-0 chromic catgut. MATERIALS AND METHODS fifty eyes with involutional lower eyelid entropion were enrolled into the study and divided randomly into two groups, A and B. Group A underwent lid everting suture with 4-0 chromic catgut and group B with 4-0 silk. The parameters assessed were pre- and post-operative lower lid excursion (LLE) and horizontal lid laxity (HLL). STATISTICAL ANALYSIS data were plotted in the excel spread sheet and analyzed using SPSS 11.0 software program. The difference between the two groups was compared using Chi square test and unpaired t test. RESULTS while comparing the pre-operative and post-operative changes of HLL within the two groups separately, there was 63% reduction of HLL in group A(p=0.001) and 68% reduction (p=0.001) in group B. In groupA, there was 48.2% improvement in LLE and in group B 52% postoperatively (p=0.001). The success rate in each group was 92%. The cost of surgery in group A was higher than that in group B (p=0.003). CONCLUSION lid everting suture by 4-0 silk is as effective as 4-0 chromic catgut. The cost of lid everting suture by 4-0 catgut is higher than that of 4-0 silk. The silk suture can be recommended for correction of lower lid involutional entropion in a country with low socioeconomic status.