What is ectropion?
Ectropion is one of the most common palpebral malposition, along with entropion, trichiasis and palpebral ptosis. Palpebral malposition means that the eyelid, often the lower eyelid, is placed in the wrong position. What happens in ectropion is that the edge of the eyelid is turned outward, causing the reddish color of the exposed conjunctiva, which should normally be covered by the eyelid, to show through.
There are three main types of ectropion:
- Involutional ectropion: it is totally associated with aging, causing the position of the eyelid against gravity may be altered. It is the most frequent type.
- Paralytic ectropion: due to the altered functioning of the orbicularis oculi muscle, responsible for closing the eye, the eyelid position is affected.
- Cicatricial ectropion: in this type the eyelid becomes inverted due to the traction action of the skin affected by some dermatological pathology. Perhaps the least frequent type of ectropion.
Prognosis of ectropion
The prognosis is good if the condition is diagnosed and treated early. Symptoms of ectropion The most frequent symptoms are those suffered by patients with involutional ectropion, as these patients are the paradigm of symptoms:
- Eye irritation
- Excessive tearing of the eye
- Ocular dryness
- Foreign body sensation
- Redness of the eyelid margin and sclera (the white part of the eyeball)
Medical tests for ectropion
Ectropion can be diagnosed with a routine eye exam and physical examination. If the ectropion is caused by a scar, tumor, previous surgery, or radiation, the diagnosis will also include examination of the surrounding tissue.
What are the causes of ectropion?
This malposition of the eyelids is usually associated with the aging of the tissues, which weaken and lose tension. In this case we speak of involutional or senile ectropion. It can also be caused by
- Trauma
- Facial spasm or paralysis (paralytic ectropion).
- Some types of surgeries.
- Healing processes (for example, after a burn). In this case, specialists speak of cicatricial ectropion.
- Genetic origin
Can it be prevented?
Involutional ectropion, the most frequent, cannot be prevented, as its appearance is due to a series of aging processes that cannot be avoided. What can be done is to detect it as early as possible to avoid secondary problems in the eye.
Treatments for ectropion
The treatment of ectropion is always surgical. One technique or another will be performed depending on the cause of the ectropion, although it is always a quick, outpatient surgery with excellent results in most cases.
It is essential to be previously checked by a specialist ophthalmologist in order to make an assessment and prescription suitable for each patient.
Which specialist treats it?
The specialist who treats this pathology is the oculoplastic surgeon or ophthalmologist.