Ectropion

Ectropion is the weakening of the muscles of the eye due to old age. The lower eyelid tends to droop off from the eyes. In certain cases, the eye lids even protrude out. This causes the exposing of the inner part of the eye that can lead to the eyes developing soreness and becoming teary. This can in turn cause the eyes to develop infection.

Symptoms

The person who is suffering from ectropion will have the eyelids sagging away from the eyes and often gets protruded from the eyes. In many cases, ectropion causes the improper closing of the eyes. This leads to the eye developing dryness, irritation, redness and soreness.

The presence of ectropion is characterised by the presence persistent watery eyes. The tears that come for the surface of eyes are drained to the back of nose by a mini passage. This is known as the tear duct.

The eyelid of the person having ectropion droops away and starts protruding outwards. This results in the displacement of the tear duct away from the surface of the eyes. Since the tear ducts get displaced, the tears are not drained efficiently and effectively. So they get collected inside the eyelids that have drooped causing the continuous weeping of eyes.

Since the tears do not get drained away properly, the bacteria which may be present in the eyes also are not cleaned from the eye’s surface.

In such cases, the chances of the eyes developing infection are very high. The most common infection that the eye develops is conjunctivitis. This is the inflammation of the conjunctive that results in the irritation and redness of the eyes causing the discharge of pus-like fluid from the eye.

The medication for conjunctivitis is usually available as over the counter drugs. This includes tablets to relieve the pain associated with conjunctivitis, eye drops as well as antibiotics to get relief from the infection.

Causes

Even though the major cause of ectropion is the weakening of the muscles present around the eyes, the condition may also be triggered by:

The presence of any injury of the skin present around one’s eyes. The body pulls up the skin for the closure of the wound. This is termed as shortening or contraction. This can lead to the eye lids being displaced from their normal position.
Facial palsy or Bell’s palsy is a condition where the facial muscles including those of the eyelids tend to be weak or paralytic. This is a temporary stage. The people normally recover without any treatment in a short span of time.

Treatment

Ectropion can be treated to a certain extent by performing surgery that will be helpful for the tightening of the muscles and skin for holding the eyelids in place. This is normally performed under local anaesthesia. To prevent the bruising or swelling of the eyes, padding will be done for about twenty four hours. The stitches will be there after the surgery will be removed after five or seven days.

One must wash the eyes will boiled water that is cooled or using an eye solution for keeping them clean and preventing infection. In case the person develops infection the antibiotics may be prescribed.

Complications

One may lose his sight if ectropion is not treated.