Amniotic Membrane Transplantationfor Congenital Distichiasis

Purpose: To evaluate the use of amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) for managementof congenital distichiasis.Methods: In this interventional case series, 16 eyelids of 5 patients with congenitaldistichiasis underwent posterior lamella resection and AMT.Results: All patients were male subjects with mean age of 13.6±15.2 (range 2-42) years.Mean follow up was 17±7.5 (range 6-29) months. Distichiasis did not recur in 11 eyelids(68.7%). Misdirected eyelashes recurred in 3 eyelids (18.8%) outside the AMT area andin 2 eyelids (12.5%) within the AMT area which were successfully treated by gentle laserepilation. Postoperatively, symptoms of dry eye were controlled by medical treatmentin all patients. Eyelid contour was not significantly altered in any patient.Conclusion: AMT seems to be an acceptable alternative for surgical management ofcongenital distichiasis yielding acceptable eyelid contour with low rate of complications.