THE PURPOSE of this paper is to describe a new surgical procedure for repair of large lower lid defects created by removal of lid tumors.
General Considerations
The technique for repair of large defects of the lower lid has remained essentially unaltered since Hughes reported his method of rebuilding the lower lid in 1937.1 The Hughes method has usually given satisfactory results. However, it has the drawback of requiring three surgical procedures over a period of several months. During this time the patient may be markedly incapacitated, particularly if their only useful vision is in the operated eye.The procedure described here offers the advantages of not incapacitating the patient for a prolonged period and giving excellent cosmetic results. The results should be equally good for repair of traumatic or congenital colobomas of the lid as for lid tumors.Since free skin and conjunctival autografts are well recognized surgical