Entropion and Ectropion

Entropion and ectropion are eyelid problems.

Normally, your upper and lower eyelids close tightly to protect your eye.

Entropion

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SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

If you have entropion, the edge of one of your eyelids turns inward, so your eyelashes rub against your eye. This can damage your cornea, the clear layer at the front of your eye.

Ectropion

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MID ESSEX HOSPITAL SERVICES NHS TRUST/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

If you have ectropion, the edge of one of your eyelids turns outward. When this happens your upper and lower eyelids don’t fit against each other properly, so your eye doesn’t fully close. This can dry out your eye.

Entropion and ectropion can happen because of:

• Aging—as you get older, the tissue around your eye loosens

• An eye infection, surgery, or injury

• Growths on the eyelid

• Weak muscles around the eye

• A condition at birth

Entropion and ectropion have similar symptoms:

• A feeling like there’s something in your eye

• Watering eyes

• Redness in your eyes

• Mucus and crusting of your eyelid

• Blurry vision if the eyelid irritates the cornea (the clear layer at the front of the eye) or you can't close your eye all the way

• Dry eyes with ectropion

Your doctor can tell if you have entropion or ectropion by looking at your eyes.

Doctors treat entropion and ectropion with:

• Artificial tears (eye drops that act like real tears to wet the eye)

• Eye ointments (to keep your eyes moist at night)

• Sometimes an eye patch or soft contact lens to protect the cornea

• Sometimes an injection of medicine to lessen spasm in the eyelid

• Sometimes surgery