ENTROPION: Inturned eyelid. The eyelashes irritate the cornea, and occasionally may cause in infection.
ECTROPION: Out-turned eyelid as seen to the right. The cornea may dry from exposure and tears may overflow.
Causes of entropion and ectropion
Very common, and in North America usually involve the lower lid.
- Age-related lid laxity (wear and tear of old age)
- Trauma
- Scarring
- Facial nerve palsy, a common cause of ectropion.
- Entropion and ectropion are AHIP-covered procedures.
- Taping the eyelid may help patients until the time of surgery.
- Some patients with entropion can be given a botox injection to relieve their discomfort until the time of surgery.
- The lid surgery is an outpatient procedure, and done awake with local anesthetic. The freezing needle may hurt for 40 seconds.
- The lower eyelid may appear lifted after the surgery (like an Oriental eyelid). This is usually not permanent.
- The eyelid may be puffy, bruised or swollen for several weeks after the surgery.
- Much of the surgery is performed at the ear side corner of the eyelid. It is not uncommon for the ear side of corner of the eyelid to be uncomfortable for 1-2 months following the procedure.
- After surgery, do not rub or tug on the lower lid - or the ectropion / entropion will recur.
- If instilling eye drops, do NOT pull the lower lid down.
- Try to avoid sleeping on your cheek.
- After surgery you may have a scar where the surgical incision was made.
Before surgery
- Entropion and ectropion are AHIP-covered procedures.
- Taping the eyelid may help patients until the time of surgery.
- Some patients with entropion can be given a botox injection to relieve their discomfort until the time of surgery.
During the surgery
The lid surgery is an outpatient procedure, and done awake with local anesthetic. The freezing needle may hurt for 40 seconds.
After surgery
- The lower eyelid may appear lifted after the surgery (like an Oriental eyelid). This is usually not permanent.
- The eyelid may be puffy, bruised or swollen for several weeks after the surgery.
- Much of the surgery is performed at the ear side corner of the eyelid. It is not uncommon for the ear side of corner of the eyelid to be uncomfortable for 1-2 months following the procedure.
- After surgery, do not rub or tug on the lower lid - or the ectropion / entropion will recur.
- If instilling eye drops, do NOT pull the lower lid down.
- Try to avoid sleeping on your cheek.
- After surgery you may have a scar where the surgical incision was made.