Description

Entropion (en-TROH-pee) is a condition in which the eyelid turns inward so that your eyelashes and skin rub against the eye surface. This causes irritation and discomfort.

When you have entropion, your eyelid may be turned in all the time or only when you blink hard or squeeze your eyelids shut. Entropion is more common in older adults, and it generally affects only the lower eyelid.

Artificial tears and lubricating ointments can help relieve symptoms of entropion. But usually surgery is needed to fully correct the condition. Left untreated, entropion can cause damage to the transparent covering on the front of the eye (cornea), eye infections and vision loss.

Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of entropion result of the friction of your lashes and on the outside of the eyelid against the surface of their eyes. You may experience:

  • The feeling of having something in the eye
  • Redness of the eyes
  • Eye irritation or pain
  • The sensitivity to light and wind
  • The tearing of the eyes (excessive tearing)
  • Mucous discharge and eyelid crusting

When to see a doctor

Seek immediate medical attention if you have received a diagnosis of entropion and experience:

  • Rapid increase of redness in the eyes
  • The pain
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Decreased vision

These are the signs and symptoms of corneal injury, which may harm your vision.

Make an appointment to see your doctor if you feel like you constantly have something in your eye or notice that some of their lashes seem to be turning in toward your eye. If you leave the entropion without treatment for a long time, can cause permanent damage to the eyes. Start the use of artificial tears and eye ointments and lubricants to protect your eye before your appointment.

Causes

Entropion can be caused by:

  • The muscle weakness. With age, the muscles under the eyes tend to weaken, and the tendons are stretched. This is the most common cause of entropion.
  • Scars or previous surgeries. The skin full of scars from burns, trauma or surgery, it may distort the normal curve of the eyelid.
  • Infection in the eyes. An eye infection called trachoma is common in many developing countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and the Pacific Islands. It can cause scars on the inside of the eyelids, leading to entropion and even blindness.
  • Inflammation. Eye irritation caused by dryness or inflammation can lead to try to relieve the symptoms by rubbing of the eyelids or squeezing them shut. This can lead to a spasm of the eyelid muscles and a roll of the edge of the cover inward against the cornea (entropion spastic).
  • Development of complications. When entropion is present at birth (congenital), can be caused by an extra fold of skin on the eyelid that causes become tabs.

Risk factors

Factors that increase your risk of developing entropion include:

  • Age. With age, the greater the likelihood of developing the disease.
  • Previous burns or trauma. If you have had burns or other injuries on his face, the resulting scar tissue can put you at greater risk of development of entropion.
  • Trachoma infection. Because trachoma can cause a scar on the inside of the eyelids, the people who have had this infection are more likely to develop entropion.

Complications

Irritation of the cornea, and injuries are the most serious complications associated with entropion, as it can lead to permanent loss of vision.

Prevention

In general, the entropion is not avoidable. You may be able to prevent the damage caused by trachoma infection. If your eyes become red and irritated after visiting an area where trachoma infection is common, seek evaluation and treatment right away.

Diagnosis

Entropion can usually be diagnosed with a routine eye exam and physical. Your doctor may pull on your eyelids during the exam or ask you to blink or close his eyes with force. This helps you to assess your position of the eyelid over the eye, his muscle tone and tightness.

If entropion is caused by the scar tissue, previous surgery or other conditions, your doctor will examine the surrounding tissue as well.

Treatment

The method of treatment depends on the cause of entropion. The non-surgical treatments are available to relieve symptoms and protect your eyes from the damage.

When active inflammation or infection causes entropion (entropion spastic), your eyelid may return to their normal alignment, such as the treatment of the inflammation or the infected eye. But if the scar tissue has occurred, entropion can persist even after the other condition has been treated.

The surgery is usually required to fully correct the entropion, but short-term fixes can be useful if you are unable to tolerate surgery or have to delay.

Therapies

  • Soft contact lens. Your eye doctor may suggest that you use a type of soft contact lens as a sort of corneal bandage to help relieve the symptoms. These are available with or without a refractive prescription.
  • Botox. Small amounts of onabotulinumtoxinA (Botox) was injected into the lower eyelid can activate the eyelid. You can get a series of injections, with effects that last up to six months.
  • The stitches that turn the lid to the outside.This procedure can be performed in the doctor's office with local anesthesia. After numbing the eyelid, the doctor puts several stitches at specific locations along the affected eyelid. The pivot points of the lid to the outer, and the resulting scar tissue is held in position even after the stitches are removed. After several months, your eyelid may be turned back in. So this technique is not a long-term solution.
  • The skin of the tape. Special of the transparent skin of the tape can be applied to your eyelid to keep it from turning on.

The stitches that turn the lid to the outside. This procedure can be performed in the doctor's office with local anesthesia. After numbing the eyelid, the doctor puts several stitches at specific locations along the affected eyelid.

The pivot points of the lid to the outer, and the resulting scar tissue is held in position even after the stitches are removed. After several months, your eyelid may be turned back in. So this technique is not a long-term solution.

Surgery

The type of surgery you have depends on the condition of the tissue surrounding the eyelid and in the cause of entropion.

If entropion is age-related, your surgeon may remove a small part of your lower eyelid. This helps to tighten the affected tendons and muscles. You will need a couple of stitches in the outer corner of the eye, or right below your lower eyelid.

If you have scars on the inside of your lid, or have suffered trauma or previous surgery, the surgeon may perform a graft of mucous membrane using tissue from the roof of the mouth or the nostrils.

Before the surgery, you'll receive a local anesthetic to numb the eyelid and the area around it. Can be lightly sedated to be more comfortable, depending on the type of procedure you are having and if it is done in an outpatient surgical clinic.

After the surgery, you may need to:

  • The use of an antibiotic ointment in the eye for a week
  • The use of cold compresses periodically to reduce bruising and swelling

After the surgery, you will likely have:

  • Temporary swelling
  • Bruising in and around their eyes

Your eyelid may feel tight after the surgery. But as you heal, it will be more comfortable. The sutures are usually removed about a week after the surgery. You can expect swelling and bruising to disappear in about two weeks.

Lifestyle and home remedies

To relieve the symptoms of entropion until you have the surgery, you can try:

  • Eye lubricants. Artificial tears and eye ointments help to protect the cornea and keep it lubricated.
  • The skin of the tape. Special of the transparent skin of the tape can be applied to your eyelid to keep it from turning on. Place one end of the ribbon near the bottom of the eyelash, then gently pull down and plug the other end of the tape to the upper part of your cheek. Ask your doctor to demonstrate the proper technique and the placement of the tape.

Preparing for your appointment

If you have signs and symptoms of entropion, which is likely to start by seeing your primary care physician. He or she may refer you to a doctor who specializes in the treatment of disorders of the eyes (eye doctor).

Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment.

What you can do

Before your appointment, make a list of:

  • All the drugs, vitamins, and supplements you are taking, including dose
  • The symptoms that you've had and for how long
  • Other eye conditions, injuries or surgeries you have had
  • Questions to ask your doctor

For entropion, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:

  • What is the most likely cause of my symptoms?
  • What kinds of tests do I need? Does not require special preparation?
  • Is this condition temporary or long-term?
  • You can entropion damage my vision?
  • What treatments are available, and which do you recommend?
  • What are the risks of the surgery?
  • What are the alternatives to surgery?
  • I have other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
  • Do you have any brochures or other printed material that I can take with me? What sites do you recommend?

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor may ask you a series of questions, such as:

  • When did you first begin experiencing symptoms?
  • The symptoms been continuous or occasional?
  • Have you had any previous eye surgery or procedures on the eye or the eyelid?
  • Have you had any other eye problems, such as an eye infection or a wound?
  • Are you taking blood thinners?
  • Are you taking aspirin?
  • Are you using eye drops?
Symptoms and treatment of Entropion