Entropion is an eye condition caused by loss of elasticity in the muscles around the eye. It results in the muscles of the eyelid overlapping and the eyelashes turning inwards towards the eyeball, causing discomfort and possible damage to the cornea (the front surface of the eye).
Entropion is an eye condition whereby an eyelid (either upper or lower) turns inwards towards the surface of your eyeball. This leaves the eyelashes and skin rubbing against your unprotected eye, which understandably can cause discomfort.
Similarly to ectropion, the most frequent cause of entropion is natural ageing. This causes muscles to weaken and sometimes they fail to perform their intended function around the eye and keep the eyelids in their correct positions.
Entropion can also be caused by scarring of the area affecting the shape of the eyelid, excessive rubbing of the eyes or an eye infection such as trachoma, which is fairly common in certain developing countries.
It’s also possible for entropion to be congenital, which means present from birth. However, this is rare.
Someone suffering from entropion may experience these symptoms in the affected eye:
Medical advice should be sought immediately if you believe that you are suffering from entropion. If left untreated, this condition may lead to blindness or permanent reduction of vision.
One possible line of treatment is Botulinum Toxin injections to restore the correct eyelid position. However, further injections will be required at regular intervals, so this is not a long-term solution.
Surgery is a permanent solution for entropion sufferers. At OCL vision, we offer entropion surgery to restore the affected eyelid to its normal position and stop the friction between eye and eyelashes. Read more about the surgery here.
There is usually no clear way to prevent entropion, particularly because it is most commonly caused by the natural ageing process. However, if you have recently visited a country where trachoma is common and you subsequently develop eye redness and/or irritation, please seek a medical opinion as soon as you can.
Refer to our eyelid laxity surgery page for more information on entropion surgery options and pricing.
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