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Entropion

Entropion is an eye condition in which the margin of the upper and/or lower eyelid is turned inwards.
In the presence of this condition, with every movement of the eye, the eyelashes and eyelid margin rub against the eyeball, in particular against the conjunctiva (the membrane covering the 'white part' of the eyeball) and the cornea (the most anterior and transparent part, which is crucial for vision). This causes redness and irritation of the eye , and continued exposure can lead to lesions such as abrasions, ulcers, abscesses or scars.

Typical symptoms of entropion develop slowly. They begin, in the initial phase, with a slight sense of irritation, and may continue over time with:

  • Redness of the eyes;
  • Foreign body sensation
  • Pain around the eye;
  • Excessive tearing (with tears falling down the face);
  • Impairment of vision, especially in the presence of corneal damage.

Entropion can be senile (due to involutional processes that weaken the eyelid structures and their tendons) or, more rarely, congenital, spastic (caused by persistent eye irritation, surgical trauma or blepharospasm) or scarring (as a result of chemical burns, trauma, infection or an autoimmune process).

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Diagnosis

The diagnosis of entropion is made by a normal eye examination.

During the examination, the doctor will assess the muscle tone and hyperlaxity of the eyelid tissues, indicating the best therapy or surgical technique, depending on the situation.

If entropion is suspected to be caused by scarring or previous surgery, the surrounding tissue will also be checked by the doctor.

Treatment

The treatment of entropion depends on its cause and the presence of the damage it may cause; in particular, the condition of the cornea influences the choice of therapy to be adopted.

In the case of mild entropion, your doctor may prescribe eye drops or ointments to alleviate the discomfort caused by the condition, although these are not intended to be curative.
In some cases, it may be necessary to apply an eye patch to evert (reposition) the eyelid or a soft contact lens to protect the cornea.
In spastic forms, drugs can be injected to reduce spasm in the eyelid, but the treatment is temporary and non-curative.

To permanently correct the position of the eyelid, the only solution is surgery. It is up to the ophthalmologist to determine the need for surgery and the best technique for each situation.

 

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