Entropion and ectropion
Entropion is a condition where your eyelid is turned inward toward your eye. As a result, your eyelashes and skin rub against the surface of your eye (the cornea), causing irritation and discomfort.
Ectropion is a condition where your eyelid is turned outward away from your eye. This means that the inner eyelid surface is exposed, resulting in irritation. It also compromises the protection of the eye鈥檚 surface and can result in dry eye. This can occur in either the upper or lower eyelid, but is more common in the lower lid. Ectropion occurs more frequently than entropion.
Both conditions particularly affect individuals over the age of 60.
Symptoms of entropion and ectropion
The symptoms of entropion and ectropion depend on which condition you have. However, both are likely to begin slowly as the condition develops and eventually cause extreme discomfort in your eye.
If you have entropion, you may experience:
- The feeling that something is in your eye
- Eye irritation or pain due to the friction of your eyelashes against your cornea
- Red eye caused by irritation
- Light and wind sensitivity
- Watery eye if the eye is unable to drain tears effectively
- Mucous discharge and eyelid crusting
If you have ectropion, you may experience:
- Watery eye due to improper drainage of tears
- Excessive dryness or dry eye
- Eye irritation or a burning sensation
- Red eye caused by irritation
- Sensitivity to light resulting from an irritated cornea
What causes entropion and ectropion?
The causes of entropion and ectropion differ slightly depending on which condition you have.
Entropion can be caused by:
- Muscle weakness 鈥� the muscles under your eyes tend to weaken as you age, causing the tendons to stretch out
- Scarring or previous surgeries 鈥� scarring that has occurred around the eye, whether surgical or traumatic, can distort the normal curve of the eyelid
- Eye injury or infection 鈥� injuries or infection can cause scarring of the inner eyelid, resulting in entropion
- Inflammation 鈥� a dry or inflamed eye can cause you to try and relieve the symptoms by rubbing the eyelid. This can lead the eyelid muscles to spasm and the lid to roll inward
- Developmental complication 鈥� entropion can be present at birth if the eyelid has an extra fold of skin that results in turned-in eyelashes
Ectropion may be a result of:
- Muscle weakness 鈥� similar to entropion, as you age, the muscles under your eyes tend to weaken. This can cause the tendons to stretch out, resulting in your eyelid drooping
- Facial paralysis 鈥� certain conditions that involve paralysis of the facial nerves and muscles, such as Bell鈥檚 palsy and certain types of tumours, can affect your eyelid muscles
- Scarring or previous surgeries 鈥� just as in entropion, eyelid skin that has been damaged, either through injury or trauma, can change the way it sits against your eye
- Growths on your eyelid 鈥� whether benign or cancerous, growths on your eyelid can cause the lid to turn outward
- Genetic disorders 鈥� if ectropion is present at birth, it鈥檚 usually associated with a genetic disorder, such as Down鈥檚 syndrome
Entropion and ectropion diagnosis
Both entropion and ectropion can usually be diagnosed with a routine eye exam.
Your eye specialist may pull on your eyelids or ask you to blink or close your eyes during the exam, so they can assess your eyelid鈥檚 muscle tone and tightness. They may also examine the surrounding skin in case scarring is suspected to be the cause of your entropion or ectropion.
If you鈥檙e wondering whether your symptoms may be caused by entropion or ectropion, book an appointment with an eye specialist at AOA体育平台 Eye Centre today.
* We offer fast appointments Monday - Friday only.
Entropion and ectropion treatments
Entropion and ectropion are treated slightly differently, and your treatment will ultimately depend on the cause of your condition. However, the treatment may include:
- Eye drops 鈥� such as artificial tears to lubricate your eye. This treatment is designed to relieve the symptoms rather than cure your entropion or ectropion
- Soft contact lens 鈥� these can protect your cornea from inward-turning eyelashes to help ease your discomfort
- Botox 鈥� small amounts of Botox, injected into the lower eyelid, can help it to turn outward. The effects of Botox can last up to six months
- Stitches 鈥� performed with local anaesthesia, your doctor can place stitches in specific locations along the affected eyelid to turn it outward. However, your eyelid may turn itself inward again after a few months, so this isn鈥檛 a permanent solution
- Transparent skin tape 鈥� this can be applied to your eyelid to prevent it from turning inward
If the cause of your condition is age-related muscle weakness, your specialist may recommend entropion or ectropion repair surgery.
During this procedure, your surgeon will use surgical tools to place the eyelid into the correct position to tighten it. They will then either roll the lid outwards (for entropion) or roll the lid inwards (for ectropion).
This procedure can be undertaken either under local anaesthetic or with sedation. Either way, the surgery is a day-case procedure, meaning you should be able to go home the same day.
In terms of aftercare, you may need to:
- Wear an eyepatch for the first 24 hours
- Use an antibiotic or steroid ointment on your eye for one week
- Use cold compresses to decrease bruising and swelling
You can expect the bruising and swelling to fade after around two weeks.