Objective To evaluate the clinical effect of the eyelid reconstruction using hard palate mucosa graft after resection of malignant tumor of eyelid. Methods From January 1998 to October2003, 18 cases of malignant tumor of eyelid underwent the eyelid reconstruction with local flap grafting and hard palate mucosa autotransplantation. Of 18 cases, there were 10 males and 8 females, aging from 35 to 67 years. The defect was caused by basal cell carcinoma of eyelid in 10 cases, by carcinoma of meibomian glands in 6 cases and by squamous cell carcinoma of eyelid in 2 cases, including 12 cases of complete eyelid defect and 6 cases of 2/3 eyelid defect. Results The appearance and function of the eyelid in all cases were almost normal after the eyelid reconstruction with hard palate mucosa autotransplantation in replacing posterior layer of eyelid. The complete eyelid closure and no entropion were observed in all cases. The infection and contracture of the graft, immunologic rejection were not observed in allcases during the followup period of 6 to 48 months. Conclusion The eyelid reconstruction using autotransplantation with hard palate mucosa in replacing posterior layer of eyelid was easy-to-operate and has satisfactory clinical effect. The hard palate mucosa as substitute of tarsus is superior to the traditional substitute.