Ectropion

  • Definition:
  • Eyelid sags and turns outward, causing irritation, infections, and potentially corneal ulcers.

Types

  • Involutional: Age-related changes, common after 60.
  • Cicatricial: Caused by skin scarring (burns, trauma, skin conditions).
  • Paralytic:Due to facial paralysis (e.g., Bell’s palsy).
  • Mechanical:Caused by a mass pulling the eyelid outward.
  • Congenital:Present since birth, rare.
  • Post-blepharoplasty:Complex, varies by cause.

Symptoms

  • Watery eyes
  • Ocular irritation
  • Mucoid discharge
  • Redness
  • Sensitivity to light and wind

Signs

  • Redness, vision changes, copious discharge, pain, white corneal spots.

Diagnosis

  • Eye exam by optician or GP, possibly referred to an ophthalmologist.

Conservative Management

  • Artificial tears, emollient creams, eyelid massage.

Surgery

  • Corrects position, involves techniques based on ectropion type, may
    involve skin grafts or flaps. Lateral tarsal strip, lateral canthoplasty, inferior retractor
    plication- reattachment

Aftercare

  • Antibiotic ointment, cold compresses, monitoring for complications.