Improved Outcomes in Lower Eyelid Reconstruction With Biodegradable Implant: A Comparative Study.

Background: Eyelid reconstruction is essential for patients who have undergone radical surgery to treat eyelid malignancies. The primary goal of this surgery is to restore both the functional and aesthetic aspects of the eyelid. Traditionally, various grafts from other parts of the body have been used for reconstruction. However, these methods may be limited by the availability of donor sites and the potential for associated complications.
Methods: The study included 61 patients 58-91 years of age who underwent lower eyelid reconstruction. The patients were divided into 2 groups: a treatment group of 31 patients who received the biodegradable implant in addition to standard surgical techniques and a control group of 30 patients who underwent reconstruction without the implant. All patients were followed up for 1 year.
Results: The study demonstrated that the use of the biodegradable membrane offered several advantages over the traditional approach without an implant. These advantages included faster healing times, as evidenced by cytological analysis; improved blood flow to the reconstructed eyelid, as measured by laser Doppler flowmetry; and a reduced incidence of eyelid complications, such as ectropion (outward turning of the eyelid). There were no statistically significant differences in tear osmolarity or pH between the 2 groups.
Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that the use of a biodegradable implant for lower eyelid reconstruction following malignant tumor surgery is a safe and effective method. It may lead to faster healing, improved blood flow, and fewer complications compared with traditional techniques.
Competing Interests: The authors have no financial interest to declare in relation to the content of this article.
(Copyright © 2025 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of The American Society of Plastic Surgeons.)