Ectropion refers to an outward lower eyelid and can occur for three different reasons. The most common is age-related involutional ectropion, where there is excessive laxity in the lower eyelid. The next most common type is paralytic ectropion, where there is partial or complete paralysis of the facial muscles, such as after a stroke or Bell’s palsy. The third type is cicatricial (cicatricial) ectropion, caused by scars related to trauma or skin diseases with hardening of the skin. Symptoms include tearing, shedding of the eyelashes, irritation, and erythema (redness) of the lower eyelid.
Involutional (age-related) and paralytic ectropion is repaired by hardening. A small incision is made at the outer corner of the lower eyelid, which is tightened and reattached just inside the lateral orbital rim, much like a “pinch and fold.” This is done as a same day surgery with light sedation and local anesthesia. Scarring ectropion is a bit more complicated to repair. Sometimes a skin graft is required.
Entropion refers to an inward-turned lower eyelid, where the eyelashes rub against the eyeball. This can be quite irritating to a patient and if left untreated can cause permanent damage to the cornea and loss of vision. Involutional (age related) is the most common type of entropion. This is caused by vertical laxity in the lower eyelid retractors (muscles that pull the lower eyelid down and back) combined with horizontal laxity within the lower eyelid.
Symptoms include chronic redness, irritation, tearing, foreign body sensation, and loss of vision.
Entropion repair is performed as a same-day surgery with light sedation and local anesthesia. The goal of treatment is to tighten the lower eyelid retractors through a small incision just below the lower eyelashes. An additional lower eyelid tightening procedure is performed through a small incision in the outer corner of the eyelids. The incisions are closed with fine absorbable sutures.
Ectropion refers to an outward lower eyelid. Ectropion can occur for three different reasons. The most common is age-related involutional ectropion, where there is excessive laxity in the lower eyelid. The next most common type is paralytic ectropion, where there is partial or complete paralysis of the facial muscles, such as after a stroke or Bell’s palsy. The third type is cicatricial (cicatricial) ectropion, caused by scars related to trauma or skin diseases with hardening of the skin.
Symptoms include: tearing, detachment of the eyelashes, irritation and erythema (redness) of the lower eyelid.
Involutional (age-related) and paralytic ectropion are repaired with a lower lid tightening procedure. A small incision is made at the outer corner of the lower lid, and the lower lid is tightened and reattached just inside the lateral orbital rim. Think of it as a “pinch and tuck” for the lower eyelid. This is done as a same day surgery with light sedation and local anesthesia. Scarring ectropion is a bit more complicated to repair. Sometimes a skin graft is required.
Entropion refers to an inward-turned lower eyelid, where the eyelashes rub against the eyeball. This can be quite irritating to a patient and if left untreated can cause permanent damage to the cornea and loss of vision. Involutional (age related) is the most common type of entropion. This is caused by vertical laxity in the lower eyelid retractors (muscles that pull the lower eyelid down and back) combined with horizontal laxity within the lower eyelid.
Symptoms include chronic redness, irritation, tearing, foreign body sensation, and loss of vision.
Entropion repair is performed as a same-day surgery with light sedation and local anesthesia. The goal of treatment is to tighten the lower eyelid retractors through a small incision just below the lower eyelashes. An additional lower eyelid tightening procedure is performed through a small incision in the outer corner of the eyelids. The incisions are closed with fine absorbable sutures.
