Ectropion

Under Ectropion refers to an acquired deformity of the eyelid with an outward rotation. Most often, this is the lower eyelid.

Causes

Cause may be the decreased voltage of the annular eyes sphincter, which leads to an away roles of the lid. This often occurs in the elderly. It is then spoken by a senile ectropion or ectropion atonicum. Benefiting this is caused by inflammation of the eyelid margin and conjunctiva or through increased wiping movements with watery eyes.

Also can come into question as a result of facial paralysis as a cause paralysis of the eye sphincter. The ectropion is then called ectropion paralyticum. After injury, it can also be scarring of the eyelid skin and shrinkage of the scar come to an eversion of the lid, which is referred to as cicatricial ectropion or cicatriceum.

Symptoms

Due to the deformity of the lid it comes to the overflow of tears: tears drip through the lid margin and possibly cheeks along because they can not run on the physiological way through the puncta into the nasopharyngeal space, as the punctum because of ectropion no longer the eyeball rests. Sufferers tend increasingly to wipe her tears from her eyes what the deformity at most strengthened.

As the eyelid, the eye can not completely protect, dries out especially the conjunctiva, after which it can come to conjunctivitis with mainly red eyes.

Diagnostics

Since the malposition is strikingly visible, usually ranging from a glance diagnostics. Maybe the doctor will perform an examination with the slit lamp to assess the severity of conjunctivitis can.

Therapy

The ectropion is treated surgically. If the eyelid concerned, the edge of the eyelid is often included. The prognosis is good for speedy operation, but usually more attention is needed to avoid a too strong or too weak correction of the position of the eyelid.