Ectropion is the medical term used to describe sagging and outward turning of the lower eyelid and eyelashes.
The margin of the eyelid and the eyelashes evert (turn out) .
This rubbing can lead to excessive tearing, crusting of the eyelid, mucous discharge and irritation of the eye.
During blinking, the eyelids normally sweep across the surface of the cornea (Tearing occurs because the eyelids are not able to wipe the surface of the cornea properly to pump the tears into the tear duct.
Most cases of entropion are due to relaxation of the tissues of the eyelid as a result of aging. Some cases result from scarring of the eyelid caused by chemical and thermal burns, trauma, skin cancers, or previous eyelid surgery. Rarely Ectropion can be present at birth if the eyelids do not form properly.
Classification of Ectropion
Involutional
Paralytic Cicatricial
Mechanical
Involutional
Etiology: due to horizontal laxity
Treatment: lateral canthoplasty, full thickness pentagonal wedge resection
Cicatricial
Etiology:
burns
trauma
ocular rosecea
dermatitis including eczema
chronic inflammations suchas as erythema multiforme, bullous pemphigoid, sarcoid, icthiosis
zoster
Treatment: lubrication, surgery (skin graft for vertical elongation)
Cicatricial entropions
Etiology
trauma
inflammation
pemphigus
pemphigoid
stevens-johnson syndrome
trachoma
Treatment
contact lenses
epilation
lubrication
mucous membrane graft
scleral grafts
Photographs below show a patient who sustained SEVERE facial burns, with resultant cicatrical changes, complete eversion of the left upper eyelid with scarring of the lid margin/lashes to the area of the eyelid crease
To its left, is a photograph immediately after surgery. A skin graft was placed to release the scar and un-fold the upper eyelid.
Paralytic
Anatomy & Function of the facial nerve
The facial nerve (CNVII) has two major divisions and controls the muscles of facial expression, including the frontalis muscle (raises the eyebrows), the orbicularis oculi muscle (closes the eyes), the zygomaticus muscles (raises the angle of the mouth)
The upper zygomatic branch supplies the frontalis, upper lid orbicularis oculi, corregator supercilli and procerus.
The lower zyqomatic branch supplies the lower lid orbicularis.
The nervus intermedius gives off the greater petrosal nerve which carries parasympathetic secretary fibers to the lacrimal gland
Etiologies
Congenital
Moebius' Syndrome
Acquired
Bell's Palsy
vascular lesions
Tumors
Acoustic Neuroma
Parotid gland
temporal bone tumor
Trauma
Symptoms
Tearing, atonic eyelids
Treatment:
Medical
Temporary: Lubrication, moisture chamber
Surgical (usually wait several months)
Permanent: lateral tarsorraphy permis closure of the eyelids to narrow the palpebral fissure and decrease evaporation.
Brow suspension,
fascia lata or silicone sling to lower eyelid
gold weight insertion a light (1 mg weight ) manufactured by Meddev Corp is fixed to pretarsal space of the upper eyelid. This weight allows the eyelid to close more easily.
Ectropion is a medical condition in which the lower eyelid turns outwards
Entropion is a medical condition in which the eyelids fold inward. It is very uncomfortable, as the eyelashes rub against the cornea constantly. Entropion is usually caused by genetic factors and may be congenital. Trachoma infection may cause scarring of the inner eyelid, which may cause entropion
Trichiasis is a medical term for abnormally positioned eyelashes that grow back toward the eye, touching the cornea or conjunctiva. This can be caused by infection, inflammation, autoimmune conditions, and trauma such as burns or eyelid injury.