Reconstruction of full thickness defects of both eyelids

Summary Full thickness defects of the upper eyelids are most often the result of mutilating surgery for cancer. In most cases, immediate reconstruction should be performed in order to insure protection of the cornea.In the past, many techniques have been proposed for the repair of such defects. In this article, the author reviews the most commonly used methods of reconstruction. Using several case examples, he then shows how these techniques can be modified or combined in order to obtain the best functional and cosmetic results even in defects involving the whole of the upper lid and part of the lower eyelid.Paper presented in part at the 3rd Congress of the European Section of the International Confederation for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Den Haag, May 1977