Entropion is generally unavoidable. You might be able to avoid the type brought on by trachoma. If your eyes get red and itchy after visiting an area where trachoma infection is widespread, consult a doctor right once for an exam and treatment.
Diagnosis of Entropion
Entropion is commonly detected during a routine eye check and physical examination. Your doctor may tug on your eyelids during the exam or urge you to blink or close your eyes quickly; this allows him to analyze the position of your eyelid on the eye, as well as its muscle tone and tension.
Your doctor will evaluate the surrounding tissue if your entropion is caused by scar tissue, past surgery, or other disorders.
Entropion Treatment
The cause of your entropion determines the therapy method. To relieve discomfort and protect your eye from injury, non-surgical treatments are available.
When entropion is caused by active inflammation or infection, your eyelid may return to its natural alignment as you treat the inflamed or infected eye. Entropion may continue even after the underlying ailment has been treated if tissue scarring has occurred.
In most cases, surgery is required to treat entropion fully, however, if you cannot endure surgery or need to postpone it, short-term treatments can be helpful.
Therapies
Soft contact lenses. To help alleviate discomfort, your eye doctor may recommend that you use a soft contact lens as a corneal bandage. These are available with or without a prescription for refractive correction.
Botox. The lower eyelid can be turned out with little quantities of onabotulinumtoxinA (Botox) injected into it. A series of injections may be required, with effects lasting up to six months.
Stitches that cause the eyelid to turn outward. This operation can be performed under a local anesthetic in your doctor’s office. Your doctor will apply many sutures in particular locations along the afflicted eyelid after numbing it.
The stitches cause the eyelid to turn outward, and the scar tissue that forms, as a result, holds it in place long after the stitches are removed. After a few months, your eyelid may turn inside again. As a result, this method is not a long-term answer.
Tape on the skin. To prevent your eyelid from turning in, use special transparent skin tape.
Surgical procedures
Your surgeon will most likely remove a tiny portion of your lower eyelid in an eyelid surgery if your entropion is caused by age. This helps to tighten the tendons and muscles that are damaged. A few stitches will be placed on the outside corner of your eye or just underneath your lower eyelid.
Your surgeon may conduct a mucous membrane graft using tissue from the roof of your mouth or nasal passages if you have scar tissue on the inside of your lids, or if you have experienced trauma or previous procedures.
You will be given a local anesthetic to numb your eyelid and the area around it before surgery. Then, depending on the treatment and if it is done in an outpatient surgical clinic, you may be gently sedated to make you more comfortable.
Following surgery, your eyelid may feel tight. It will, however, grow more comfortable as you heal. About a week after surgery, the stitches are normally removed. In about two weeks, the swelling of the eye and bruising should go away.
