Inturned Eyelids (Entropion)

In turned Eyelids (Entropion)

What are Inturned Eyelids?

The condition in which eyelids turn inwards and the eyelashes and skin rub against the surface of the eye is called Inturned Eyelids or Entropion. This causes discomfort and irritation in the eye. Entropion is more common in older adults, and it generally affects only the lower eyelid.

If this condition is left untreated it can cause damage to the cornea and lead to vision loss.

What are the symptoms Inturned Eyelids ?

The friction between the eyelashes and the cornea gives the major symptoms of Entropion. They are follows:

• The feeling of a foreign object in your eye
• Redness
• Eye irritation or pain
• Sensitivity to light and wind
• Watery eyes (excessive tearing)

What causes Inturned Eyelids ?

Aging is the most common cause. Here is a list of reasons that can cause Entropion.

• Muscle weakness- Your eye muscles get weak as you age, and is unable to maintain the eyelid in position. This is the main reason behind Entropion, in elderly people.
• Trauma or eye surgery. Thermal/ chemical or even mechanical injury to the inner part of the eyelid may lead to scarring of the eyelid resulting in Entropion.
• Eye infection.
• Inflammation
• Entropion by birth- When entropion is present at birth (congenital), it may be caused by an extra fold of skin on the eyelid that causes turned-in eyelashes.

Treatment options

The treatment of Entropion is relatively straightforward. If there is any underlying cause, this is addressed first. If entropion perists, surgery will be required in which Dr. Sneha will realign the eyelid to the correct position.

What does surgery entail?

The surgery is usually performed as a day case procedure, under local anesthesia. The surgery involves placing stitches in the eyelid to tighten it and turn it back outward.

What is the recovery time?

Expect some swelling and bruising which usually resolves in a week to 10 days. Most of Dr.Sneha's patients find that they can to go about their day to day activities within a couple of days of surgery. Sutures, if applied to the skin, are removed in a week.

What are the potential complications?

Bleeding from the eyelids and infection are the two most common complications. Overcorrection. Undercorrection. Scarring