Eyelid Tumors: Surgical Techniques

The goals in the management of a malignant eyelid lesion are to establish an early and accurate diagnosis through an incisional or excisional biopsy. Following diagnosis, it is integral to achieve a permanent cure by total eradication of the tumor. In order to properly reconstruct the resultant defect, it is integral to have a strong understanding of eyelid and facial anatomy. The eyelid is a bilamellar structure, with the anterior lamella consisting of the skin and orbicularis oculi muscle, and the posterior lamella of the tarsal plate and conjunctiva. By ensuring that each lamella is vascularized by its own blood supply, various techniques can be used to reconstruct the eyelid and ocular adnexa. These methods must ultimately ensure proper restoration of eyelid function, optimize ocular surface health, and provide maximum cosmesis.