What is lateral cantus?

The lateral canthus is the outer corner of the eye where the upper and lower eyelids meet. It is formed by the insertion of the lateral palpebral ligament, which connects the upper and lower eyelids to the lateral orbital rim. The lateral canthus can be tilted up or down to change the angle of the eye. Surgery to modify the shape of the lateral canthus is called a lateral canthoplasty. This may be done for cosmetic reasons to improve the appearance of the eye, or for functional reasons to correct abnormalities such as ectropion (outward turning of the eyelid) or entropion (inward turning of the eyelid).