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Entropion is a condition in which your eyelid bends inward, causing your lashes and skin to rub against the surface of your eye. This creates annoyance and discomfort.
Entropion causes your eyelids to turn in all the time or only when you blink hard or press your eyelids tight. Entropion is more common in older people and usually just affects the lower eyelid.
Entropion symptoms can be alleviated using artificial tears and lubricating ointments. However, surgery is frequently required to entirely rectify the issue. Entropion, if left untreated, can lead to damage to the transparent covering on the front of your eye (cornea), eye infections, and vision loss.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF ENTROPION?
Entropion symptoms are caused by the friction of your eyelashes and outer eyelid against the surface of your eye. You may encounter:
- You have the sensation that something is in your eye.
- Redness of the eyes
- Irritation or pain in the eyes
- Light and wind sensitivity
- Eyes that are wet (excessive tearing)
- Eyelid crusting and mucous discharge
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF ENTROPION?
Entropion can be produced by the following factors:
- Muscle fatigue: As you become older, the muscles around your eyes weaken and the tendons stretch out. The most common cause of entropion is this.
- Scars or past surgical procedures: Scarred skin from chemical burns, trauma, or surgery can alter the typical slope of the eyelid.
- Inflammation: When you have an eye irritation caused by dryness or inflammation, you may try to relieve the symptoms by rubbing or squeezing your eyelids tight. This can result in eyelid muscular spasms and the edge of the lid rolling inward against the cornea (spastic entropion).
- Complications in development: When entropion occurs at birth (congenital), it may be caused by an additional fold of skin on the eyelid, resulting in turned-in eyelashes.
- Infection of the eyes: Trachoma is a common eye illness found in many underdeveloped countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and the Pacific Islands. Scarring of the inner eyelid can result in entropion and even blindness.
WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS FOR ENTROPION?
The following factors enhance your chances of acquiring entropion:
- Age: The older you are, the more likely you are to get the illness.
- Burns or trauma in the past: If you've had a burn or other damage to your face, the scar tissue that forms may increase your risk of getting entropion.
- Trachoma infection: People who have had trachoma are more likely to develop entropion because the illness can scar the inner eyelids.
WHAT ARE THE COMPLICATIONS FOR ENTROPION?
Corneal irritation and damage are the most significant entropion consequences because they can result in permanent vision loss.
HOW IS ENTROPION DIAGNOSED?
Entropion is typically identified during a normal eye exam and physical examination. During the exam, your doctor may pull on your eyelids or urge you to blink or close your eyes aggressively. This allows him or her to analyze the position of your eyelid on the eye, as well as its muscle tone and tension.
Your doctor will evaluate the surrounding tissue if your entropion is caused by scar tissue, past surgery, or other disorders.
WHAT ARE THE TREATMENTS FOR ENTROPION?
The therapy strategy is determined on the cause of your entropion. There are nonsurgical therapies available to relieve symptoms and safeguard your eye.
When you treat the inflamed or infected eye, your eyelid may return to its usual position. However, if scarring has formed in the tissue, entropion may continue even after the underlying condition has been treated.
Surgery is usually required to fully correct entropion, however if you can't tolerate surgery or have to postpone it, short-term treatments can be helpful.
Therapies
- Soft contact lens: To alleviate discomfort, your eye doctor may advise you to wear a soft contact lens as a form of corneal bandage. These are available with or without a prescription for refractive correction.
- Botox: OnabotulinumtoxinA (Botox) injections into the lower eyelid can turn the eyelid out. A series of injections may be administered, with the effects lasting up to six months.
- Stitches that make the eyelid turn outward: This operation can be performed under local anesthetic in your doctor's office. After numbing the eyelid, your doctor will sew numerous stitches along the afflicted eyelid.
The stitches pull the eyelid outward, and the scar tissue that forms holds it in place even after the stitches are removed. After a few months, your eyelid may move inside again. As a result, this approach is not a long-term solution.
- Skin tape: To keep your eyelid from turning in, use a special transparent skin tape.
Surgery
The sort of surgery you receive is determined by the state of the tissue surrounding your eyelid and the cause of your entropion.
If your entropion is caused by aging, the surgeon will most likely remove a portion of your lower eyelid. This aids in the tightening of the afflicted tendons and muscles. A few stitches will be placed on the outside corner of your eye or just below your lower eyelid.
If you have scar tissue on the inside of your lids, or if you have had trauma or previous surgeries, your surgeon may conduct a mucous membrane transplant utilizing tissue from the roof of mouth or nasal passages.
A local anesthetic will be administered before to surgery to numb your eyelid and the surrounding area. Depending on the type of treatment and whether it is performed in an outpatient surgical facility, you may be gently sedated to make you more comfortable.
Following surgery, you may be required to:
- For one week, apply an antibiotic ointment on your eye.
- Use cold compresses on a regular basis to reduce bruising and swelling.
Following surgery, you will most likely experience:
- Temporary swelling
- Bruising around your eyes
Following surgery, your eyelid may feel tight. It will get more comfortable as you heal. Typically, stitches are removed approximately a week following surgery. The swelling and bruising should go away in about two weeks.
HOME REMEDIES FOR ENTROPION
To alleviate entropion symptoms till surgery, try the following:
Eye lubricants: Artificial tears and eye ointments help to preserve and lubricate your cornea.
Skin tape: To keep your eyelid from turning in, use a special transparent skin tape. Place one end of the tape near your lower lashes, then carefully draw down and attach the other end to your upper cheek. Request that your doctor demonstrate correct tape technique and placement.
HOW CAN ENTROPION BE PREVENTED?
Entropion, in general, cannot be avoided. The kind induced by trachoma infection may be preventable. If your eyes become red and inflamed after visiting a trachoma-infested area, seek assessment and treatment very once.