Epiretinal Membrane
Treatment
What Is Entropion & Ectropion? Causes, Symptoms, and Diagnosis
Entropion is a condition where the margin of your eyelid, often the lower eyelid, folds inward, while Ectropion is when the margin of your eyelid folds outwards. The inversion of eyelid causes your eyelashes to rub against your corneal surface, causing irritation. Ectropion however causes incomplete closure of your eyelids , leading to exposure of your cornea and risk of abrasions/ damaging the cornea. Entropion & ectropion can occur on the eyelids of one or both eyes.
Entropion
Ectropion
Causes
Causes of entropion & entropion include horizontal eyelid looseness, congenital (genetic) origins, disinsertion or thinning of your eyelid retractors, previous surgery, trauma , or inflammation. Aging can also cause entropion & ectropion by creating loose skin, ligaments, and muscles around the eyelids. Trachoma, an eye infection, can lead to eyelid scarring, which may cause entropion.
Symptoms
The symptoms include pain, irritation and redness around your eye, dry eye syndrome, sagging skin around your eye, light and wind sensitivity, watery eyes and eye discharge.
Diagnosis
A routine comprehensive eye examination and physical can help diagnose entropion & ectropion. During a physical examination, an eye doctor will assess the eyelid’s position in your eye and its muscle tone and tightness.
When Is Surgery Required?
Entropion/ ectropion is a progressive medical condition. Left uncorrected, it can cause considerable damage to your cornea and conjunctiva, potentially leading to corneal disease. There is also the risk of corneal ulcers in advanced cases.
While you may see your primary care provider with symptoms of entropion, referral to an ophthalmologist or oculoplastic surgeon is often recommended. An ophthalmologist will determine the appropriateness of surgical intervention as a long-term solution following a comprehensive examination.
The Procedure
Doctors perform entropion /ectropion surgeries only after they educate you about the benefits and associated risks of the specific procedure. An oculoplastic surgeon or ophthalmologist performs entropion / ectropion correction as an outpatient procedure.
Before surgery, a local anesthetic will be administered to number your eyelid and the surrounding areas. Depending on your specific procedure, light sedation may be necessary to make you more comfortable. The procedure takes about 45 minutes to complete.
Recovery
Following entropion surgery, your eyelid may feel overly tight. The tightening dissipates as the surgical site heals. Your eye doctor will remove the stitches a week after the procedure.
Swelling or bruising usually heals completely within two to three weeks. Complete recovery following entropion surgery can take up to four months. The recovery period can vary from patient to patient.