Continuing Education Activity

Eyelid lacerations are common injuries that require careful evaluation and precise management to preserve eyelid function, protect the ocular surface, and maintain cosmetic appearance. Injury severity varies by depth, width, and location, and inadequate repair may result in complications such as lid malposition, corneal exposure, and impaired tear drainage. This activity reviews eyelid anatomy, wound classification, and evidence-based evaluation and management strategies, with surgical approaches organized into lacerations without eyelid margin involvement, those involving the eyelid margin, and those involving the nasolacrimal system. Clinical assessment, indications for specialist referral, and step-by-step repair techniques are discussed, as are the recognition, prevention, and management of complications. Emphasis on interprofessional collaboration among emergency clinicians, ophthalmologists, oculoplastic surgeons, and nursing staff supports coordinated care and enhances functional and cosmetic outcomes.

Objectives:

• Identify the key anatomical structures involved in eyelid lacerations that influence repair decisions and outcomes.
• Differentiate eyelid lacerations that require simple closure from those requiring specialized repair, including margin and canalicular involvement.
• Apply evidence-based surgical principles for layered eyelid closure to preserve function and cosmetic integrity.
• Coordinate care with emergency clinicians, ophthalmologists, and oculoplastic specialists to ensure timely repair and optimal patient outcomes.

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Introduction

Eyelid lacerations are the second most common type of facial lacerations encountered in the acute care setting.[1][2] Eyelid lacerations are managed differently depending on the injury's depth, width, and location. Surgical management is broken down into the following 3 categories: laceration without eyelid margin involvement, laceration with eyelid margin involvement, and laceration with nasolacrimal system involvement.

Anatomy and Physiology

Proficiency in eyelid anatomy is important when addressing an eyelid laceration (see Image. Eyelid Anatomy). The eyelid has multiple layers that serve different functions, as described below. Please see the eyelid anatomy illustration for correlation.

Skin/Subcutaneous Tissue

The eyelid skin is unique because it has no subcutaneous fat and is thus the thinnest layer of skin on the human body. The skin overlying the tarsus tends to be firmly attached to the underlying tissue. In contrast, the skin over the tarsal plate and orbital septum is loosely attached to the underlying tissue, creating a potential space for fluid to collect in the setting of trauma or edema. Because the eyelid skin is very thin, a smaller diameter suture is required, and smaller bites are taken when approximating lacerations that only involve eyelid skin.

Protractors

Directly under the upper and lower eyelid skin is the orbicularis oculi muscle. This muscle is the main protractor muscle of the eyelid, responsible for eyelid closure. The orbicularis oculi is a large, thin, circular muscle divided into pretarsal, preseptal, and orbital parts. The pretarsal and preseptal parts are responsible for involuntary eyelid closure (blinking). The orbital portion is primarily responsible for voluntary (forced) eyelid closure.

Orbital Septum

A thin, fibrous connective tissue layer separates anterior eyelid structures from intra-orbital structures. The upper orbital septum connects the periosteum of the superior orbital rim to the levator aponeurosis above the superior tarsal border, though variability exists depending on genetic heritage. The lower orbital septum connects the periosteum of the inferior orbital rim to the capsulopalpebral fascia just below the inferior tarsal border.

Orbital Fat

The orbital fat is located immediately posterior to the orbital septum and anterior to the levator aponeurosis in the upper lid and capsulopalpebral fascia of the lower lid. The upper lid contains discrete nasal and central fat pads. The lower eyelid has 3 fat pads: nasal, central, and temporal. Thin fibrous capsules surround the pads. The central orbital fat pad is an important landmark in lid laceration repair due to its location directly posterior to the orbital septum and anterior to the levator aponeurosis.

Retractors

Upper eyelid

The levator muscle originates in the orbital apex, travels forward over the eyeball, and splits into 2 different structures: the levator aponeurosis anteriorly and the superior tarsal muscle (ie, Muller muscle) posteriorly. The split occurs superiorly at the Whitnall ligament and inferiorly at the Lockwood ligament. The levator aponeurosis continues inferiorly and splits into an anterior and posterior portion near the upper tarsal border. The anterior portion of the levator aponeurosis inserts into the pretarsal orbicularis and skin to form the upper eyelid crease. The posterior portion of the aponeurosis inserts into the upper anterior surface of the tarsal plate. The superior tarsal muscle is a sympathetically innervated retractor muscle of the upper eyelid, extending from the undersurface of the levator aponeurosis at the level of the Whitnall ligament and inserting along the upper eyelid superior tarsal margin.

Lower eyelid

The capsulopalpebral fascia is analogous to the levator aponeurosis in the upper eyelid. The fibers of the capsulopalpebral fascia originate from attachments to the inferior rectus muscle. The fascia extends forward to envelope the inferior oblique muscle and form the Lockwood ligament before continuing anteriorly, attaching to the orbital septum and inferior conjunctival fornix before finally inserting at the inferior tarsal border. The inferior tarsal muscle is analogous to the superior tarsal muscle in the upper eyelid. This muscle is poorly developed and runs posterior to the capsulopalpebral fascia of the lower eyelid.

Tarsus

The tarsal plates are the main structural components of the eyelids, composed of dense connective tissue and containing the Meibomian glands and eyelash follicles. The tarsal plate of the upper eyelid is located in the center of the lid, measuring 10 mm to 12 mm vertically. The tarsal plate of the lower eyelid measures up to 4 mm vertically in the central eyelid. Both tarsal plates have rigid attachments to the periosteum via the medial and lateral canthal tendons.

Conjunctiva

This nonkeratinizing squamous epithelium lines the inner surface of the eyelids and continues to cover the anterior surface of the eyeball, where it terminates at the edge of the cornea. The conjunctiva contains mucin-secreting goblet cells and accessory lacrimal glands that assist in keeping ocular tissues lubricated. In the nasolacrimal system (not represented in the illustration), both the upper and lower eyelids have small openings termed puncta on the surface of the eyelid margin near the medial canthus.

The puncta lead to a drainage tube called the canaliculus, which eventually drains into the lacrimal sac and out of the nose via the nasolacrimal duct. Within the eyelid, the canaliculus travels 2 mm inferiorly from the punctum, then turns 90 degrees medially and travels 8 mm to 10 mm before reaching the common canaliculus, where the upper and lower canaliculi meet. The common canaliculus drains tears into the lacrimal sac and inferiorly into the nasolacrimal duct. The fluid can then exit underneath the inferior turbinate in the nose.[3][4][5][6]

Indications

Repair is indicated for eyelid lacerations that disrupt the structure or function of the eyelid. Generally, a laceration greater than or equal to 2 linear millimeters requires repair.

Contraindications

While eyelid laceration repair has no absolute contraindications, in patients with concurrent globe rupture, the globe should be evaluated and repaired before any lid procedure. Lacerations associated with human or animal bites or heavy contamination may need minimal necrotic tissue debridement, but a primary repair is often still performed. Nonetheless, contaminated wounds may be left open for delayed repair. Using epinephrine for a local anesthetic is relatively contraindicated in patients with Raynaud phenomenon, sickle cell disease, arteritis, or severe microvascular disease. However, necrosis of the eyelid following lidocaine with epinephrine administration is rare.

Equipment

Equipment needed to repair an eyelid laceration include:

• Castroviejo needle driver
• Castroviejo 0.5 mm forceps
• Suture (6-0 silk, 6-0 plain gut, 6-0 polyglactin)
• Cautery
• Stents (if needed)
• Standard prep materials for the sterile procedure

Personnel

Emergency room clinicians, general or plastic surgeons, or primary care providers can repair nonmarginal and noncanalicular system–involving lacerations of the eyelid skin. An ophthalmologist or oculofacial plastic surgeon should perform complex lacerations involving the eyelid margin, canalicular system, or canthal tendons.

Preparation

Consider tetanus prophylaxis. Obtain relevant radiologic studies. Determine the appropriate setting for repair, such as the operating room or the bedside. Indications for operating room repair include nasolacrimal system involvement, levator aponeurosis or superior rectus involvement, violation of the orbital septum or visible orbital fat, canthal tendon avulsion, and extensive tissue loss (more than one-third of the eyelid).

• Position the patient supine.
• Instill a topical anesthetic in each eye. Place a protective scleral shell over the affected eye. Irrigate the surrounding skin and clean it with a full-strength povidone-iodine solution. Ensure any foreign body or particulate matter is evacuated from the wound. Isolate the area with sterile drapes.
• Pack the nasal cavity with oxymetazoline and 4% lidocaine-soaked neurosponges if the canalicular system is involved.
• Administer local subcutaneous anesthetic (2% lidocaine with 1 in 100,000 epinephrine) using the minimal amount necessary for adequate anesthesia.

Technique or Treatment

Simple, Superficial Eyelid Laceration Repair

Reapproximate skin edges with simple interrupted sutures using 6-0 silk or 6-0 plain gut sutures. Evert the skin edges. Take small bites (approximately 1 mm from the skin edge) and space sutures 2-3 mm apart. Avoid tying sutures too tightly to the skin; tight sutures can strangulate delicate tissue. The silk suture needs to be removed. The plain gut suture is absorbable and is preferred if the patient is unable to follow up for suture removal.

Eyelid Margin Involving Laceration

Many techniques are commonly employed to approximate the edges of an eyelid margin laceration. The following workflow is one such method:

1. Using a 6-0 silk suture, reapproximate the edges of the eyelid margin by placing 1 simple interrupted suture from gray line to gray line. Do not tie the suture.
2. Then, place partial-thickness simple interrupted sutures using 6-0 Vicryl to approximate the edges of the tarsal plate. Tie these sutures and cut the ends short. This step is important for the structural integrity of the eyelid.
3. Place an additional marginal 6-0 silk suture parallel to the first but closer to the lash line.
4. Suture skin as described above.

Eyelid Laceration with Canalicular Involvement

Dilate both upper and lower puncta. If there is an uninvolved punctum, probe it to the sac and irrigate to avoid any underlying blockages. Then, identify the medial and lateral ends of the lacerated canaliculus. A miniaturized stent can be used if only 1 canaliculus is involved. Silicone tubing or a Crawford stent can be used if both are involved. See below for stenting techniques for miniature and Crawford stents. Suture skin as described above for simple laceration repair.

Miniature stent

Advance a stent through the punctum of the lacerated canaliculus and out the distal end. Then, insert a stent into the canaliculus opening of the lacerated lateral edge. Ensure the stent is seated in the punctum. Place several 6-0 polyglactin sutures using a curved needle to anastomose the cut edges of the canaliculus and reapproximate the surrounding tissue. Leave these sutures untied. Then, add interrupted buried 5-0 polyglactin sutures to reinforce the medial canthal tendon. After all deep sutures are placed, tie and trim all sutures.

Crawford stent

Place the stent's first end through the lacerated canaliculus's punctum and out the distal end. Then, pass the same end through the previously identified proximal end and advance through the lacrimal and nasal lacrimal duct. Retrieve the end of the stent from the nasal cavity. Pass the other end of the stent similarly through the intact canaliculus. Tie and trim the ends in the nose just before skin closure.[4][7][8][9][10][11]

Complications

Complications of eyelid lacerations that do not involve the canalicular system include missed injury, infection, eyelid notching, irregular eyelid contour, lagophthalmos, exposure keratopathy, septal perforation, orbital fat prolapse, corneal injury, shortening of the eyelid fornices, wound dehiscence, entropion, trichiasis, and hemorrhage. When the laceration does involve the canalicular system, additional complications may develop, including epiphora, stent migration, and epistaxis.[12]

Clinical Significance

Maintaining the proper position and structure of the eyelid is extremely important for adequate tear film, tear drainage, protection of ocular surfaces, and cosmesis. Eyelid lacerations disrupt the normal eyelid anatomy and require careful repair to prevent ocular surface decompensation and suboptimal cosmesis.[13][14][15][16]

Enhancing Healthcare Team Outcomes

Patients with eyelid lacerations often visit the emergency department or the urgent care clinic. The emergency department clinician may manage a simple eyelid laceration, but all other lacerations should be referred to the ophthalmologist or plastic surgeon. The prognosis for simple eyelid lacerations is excellent.

Complex eyelid lacerations are often associated with other eye injuries and require a full evaluation before repair. Before any repair, the ophthalmic nurse should assess the patient's visual acuity. All interprofessional team members, including clinicians, specialists, mid-level providers, pharmacists, and nursing staff, must work as a cohesive unit to optimize patient outcomes in these procedures.

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References

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Huang J, Rossen J, Rahmani B, Mets-Halgrimson R. Pediatric Eyelid and Canalicular Lacerations: Epidemiology and Outcomes. J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2023 Jan-Feb;60(1):33-38. [PubMed: 35446197]

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Han J, Chen H, Wang T, Zhang X, Jin X. A case series study of lacrimal canalicular laceration repair with the bi-canalicular stent. Gland Surg. 2022 Nov;11(11):1801-1807. [PMC free article: PMC9742051] [PubMed: 36518799]

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Disclosure: Craig Czyz declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Disclosure: Kyle Blair declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.