Ectropion

Mechanical Ectropion

Clinical Features

  • Symptoms: eye discomfort, corneal dryness and keratopthy or visual loss that may result from improper lid closure.
  • Signs:
    • Eversion of the lid margin from its normal position
    • Usually associated with one of the following conditions:
      • Congenital ectropion
      • Age-related attenuation of the medial or lateral canthal ligament and lid laxity (involutional ectropion)
      • Underlying tissue scaring from burn injury or chronic inflammation of the lid (cicatricial ectropion)
      • Orbicularis oculi paresis or facial nerve palsy (paralytic ectropion)
      • Eyelid tumor or orbital fat herniation (mechanical ectropion)

Management

  • Topical lubrications, ocular moisture chamber or temporary tarsorraphy may be helpful to reduce the ocular symptoms.
  • Definitive surgical management of the causative factors is essential to prevent more advance complications.