The Presentation and Surgical Treatment of Peribulbar Dermolipomas

Purpose: To evaluate the presentation, treatment, and outcome for patients with peribulbar dermolipomas and describe a reliable technique for excision of large lesions.

Patients and methods: Retrospective chart review for patients seen at Moorfields Eye Hospital between 1976 and 2019. Patient demographics, clinical features, imaging (CT or MRI, where available), histopathology, and surgical outcomes were reviewed.

Results: One hundred and ninety-six eyes of 187 patients (117 females; 63%) were identified as having dermolipoma, the patients presenting at an average age of 21.5 years and-where recorded in 163 patients-had first symptoms at an average age of 12.9 years. Although 8/187 (4%) patients were asymptomatic, the commonest symptom was increasing size of a longstanding peribulbar lump (136 patients; 73%); other symptoms included ocular irritation (24%), episodic localized conjunctival injection (12%), and mucoid discharge (12%). One-third of dermolipomas had visible hairs (some with localized giant papillary conjunctivitis), lateral canthal widening was present in 44 patients, aberrant lacrimal gland ductules opening onto skin in 8, and a complex lateral canthal anomaly-with both an external dermoid and an internal dermolipoma-was present in 9 patients. Complete management details were available for 120 patients (those treated after 1990) and 40 (33%) electing for observation, 71 (59%) had excision for long-term irritation and discharge and 9 (8%) for cosmesis: together with the integral subdermal fat lobule, in all cases the abnormal, nonwetting squamous epithelium was delineated and excised under microscopic control, and the conjunctival defect closed directly (59/80 eyes) or with a "V-to-Y" closure (21 eyes; 26%). The presenting symptoms were cured in all except 1 patient, who required excision of residual abnormal epithelium causing persistent symptoms. Two patients developed symblepharon to the lateral canthus after direct conjunctival closure, this having no functional effect, and 2 other patients had slight restriction of extreme horizontal gaze.

Conclusion: Dermolipomas may require surgery when they become more prominent with age, or start causing ocular irritation and discharge. Complications are few with meticulous removal of the nonwetting squamous epithelium and direct conjunctival closure, or when using a "V-to-Y" conjunctivoplasty for larger defects.