Skip to main content
The British Journal of Ophthalmology logoLink to The British Journal of Ophthalmology
. 1993 May;77(5):289–292. doi: 10.1136/bjo.77.5.289

Distichiasis: management with cryotherapy to the posterior lamella.

B A O'Donnell 1, J R Collin 1
PMCID: PMC504507  PMID: 8318465

Abstract

Distichiasis is the congenital condition of partial or complete accessory rows of eyelashes which exit from the posterior lid margin at or near the meibomian gland orifices. A series of 24 patients with distichiasis is presented with clinical features and results of treatment. The treatment modes of epilation, lid margin cryotherapy, or eyelid splitting cryotherapy to the posterior lamella are evaluated. The latter was found to effectively relieve symptoms without retreatment in 87% patients. Keratinisation of the lid margin was found at long term follow up in a few cases and retinoic acid has been used successfully in the treatment of this. Two previously unreported associations of distichiasis are Pierre Robin syndrome and idiopathic eyelid oedema. A family history of distichiasis was found in 50% patients, and of distichiasis with lymphoedema in 30%.

Full text

PDF
289

Images in this article

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Anderson R. L., Harvey J. T. Lid splitting and posterior lamella cryosurgery for congenital and acquired distichiasis. Arch Ophthalmol. 1981 Apr;99(4):631–634. doi: 10.1001/archopht.1981.03930010631008. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Bartley G. B., Jackson I. T. Distichiasis and cleft palate. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1989 Jul;84(1):129–132. doi: 10.1097/00006534-198907000-00024. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Brancato R., Matteini M., Cotrozzi G. Sindrome oculo-cerebro-renale in soggetto portatore di blefarofimosi e di distichiasi. (Inquadramento nosografico dei vari tipi di S.O.C.R.) Ann Ottalmol Clin Ocul. 1965 Jan;91(1):35–57. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Dale R. F. Primary lymphoedema when found with distichiasis is of the type defined as bilateral hyperplasia by lymphography. J Med Genet. 1987 Mar;24(3):170–171. doi: 10.1136/jmg.24.3.170. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Deutsch A. R. Distichiasis and epicanthus: a study of one family. J Tenn Med Assoc. 1969 Nov;62(11):1023–1025. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. FOX S. A. Distichiasis. Am J Ophthalmol. 1962 Jan;53:14–18. doi: 10.1016/0002-9394(62)90387-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Frueh B. R. Treatment of distichiasis with cryotherapy. Ophthalmic Surg. 1981 Feb;12(2):100–103. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Holmes L. B., Fields J. P., Zabriskie J. B. Hereditary late-onset lymphedema. Pediatrics. 1978 Apr;61(4):575–579. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Jester H. G. Lymphedema--distichiasis. A rare hereditary syndrome. Hum Genet. 1977 Nov 2;39(1):113–116. doi: 10.1007/BF00273160. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Johnson R. L., Collin J. R. Treatment of trichiasis with a lid cryoprobe. Br J Ophthalmol. 1985 Apr;69(4):267–270. doi: 10.1136/bjo.69.4.267. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Kolin T., Johns K. J., Wadlington W. B., Butler M. G., Sunalp M. A., Wright K. W. Hereditary lymphedema and distichiasis. Arch Ophthalmol. 1991 Jul;109(7):980–981. doi: 10.1001/archopht.1991.01080070092042. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Kremer I., Weinberger D., Cohen S., Ben Sira I. Corneal hypoaesthesia in asymptomatic familial distichiasis. Br J Ophthalmol. 1986 Feb;70(2):132–134. doi: 10.1136/bjo.70.2.132. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Matthäus W., Matthes R. Technik und Langzeitergebnisse der Kryoepilation bei Trichiasis und Distichiasis. Klin Monbl Augenheilkd. 1990 Feb;196(2):59–61. doi: 10.1055/s-2008-1046131. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Mehta L., Shannon R. S., Duckett D. P., Young I. D. Trisomy 18 in a 13 year old girl. J Med Genet. 1986 Jun;23(3):256–257. doi: 10.1136/jmg.23.3.256. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Mustonen E. Congenital distichiasis. A report of eleven cases and an investigation of the mode of inheritance. Acta Ophthalmol (Copenh) 1972;50(4):598–607. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Métaireau J. P. Traitement du distichiasis par la marginoplastie palpébrale (greffe de muqueuse buccale). Bull Soc Ophtalmol Fr. 1985 Nov;85(11):1247–1248. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Rodallec A., Krastinova D. La greffe chondro-muqueuse. Son intéret dans la correction de l'entropion par cicatrice tarso-conjonctivale, du trichiasis et du distichiasis. J Fr Ophtalmol. 1983;6(1):87–93. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Schwartz J. F., O'Brien M. S., Hoffman J. C., Jr Hereditary spinal arachnoid cysts, distichiasis, and lymphedema. Ann Neurol. 1980 Apr;7(4):340–343. doi: 10.1002/ana.410070410. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Shammas H. F., Tabbara K. F., der Kaloustian V. M. Atypical serum cholinesterase in a family with congenital distichiasis. J Med Genet. 1976 Dec;13(6):514–515. doi: 10.1136/jmg.13.6.514. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. White J. H. Correction of distichiasis by tarsal resection and mucous membrane grafting. Am J Ophthalmol. 1975 Sep;80(3 Pt 2):507–508. doi: 10.1016/0002-9394(75)90216-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Wolfley D. Excision of individual follicles for the management of congenital distichiasis and localized trichiasis. J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 1987 Jan-Feb;24(1):22–26. doi: 10.3928/0191-3913-19870101-06. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from The British Journal of Ophthalmology are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES