Cicatricial entropion and trichiasis in an urban Australian population

BACKGROUND: Cicatricial entropion and trichiasis may be caused by a variety of diseases, of which trachomatous entropion is the commonest worldwide. The spectrum of disease in the authors' community is quite different. The purpose of this study was to establish the aetiology of entropion and trichiasis in patients referred to a Melbourne-based subspecialty oculoplastics practice, excluding epiblepharon, congenital entropion and involutional entropion, and to compare the final diagnosis with the referring diagnosis. METHODS: All records of patients with cicatricial entropion and trichiasis presenting to the practice of one of the authors over the period 1990-2000 were analysed. Demographic data, referring diagnosis and final diagnosis were tabulated. RESULTS: The commonest final diagnosis was ocular cicatricial pemphigoid. In only a small proportion of cases was this diagnosis considered by the referring practitioners. In addition, two cases of undiagnosed conjunctival neoplasia presented with entropion and trichiasis. CONCLUSION: In all patients with entropion and trichiasis, a careful history and examination should be obtained and appropriate investigations performed to try and establish a firm diagnosis.