Ectropion

• Scarring ectropion (E. cicatriceum) can occur after injuries or operations in the eyelid area. The scars can be visible on the surface or hidden deep down. During lower eyelid correction, a so-called canthopexy is performed, among other things, to prevent scarring after the operation.
• Tumors can also lead to changes in the form of a sunken lower eyelid.
• Heavy bags under the eyes can promote or exacerbate it.
• Senile ectropion (E. senile) is the most common and is the result of tissue slackening in old age.
• This change is also typical of paralysis of the facial nerve (facial nerve palsy) (E. paralyticum).
• Inflammation of the eyelid margins (blepharitis) can also be associated with this.

What symptoms and complaints are typical?

The slight sagging of the lower eyelid does not usually cause any discomfort and is more of a cosmetic problem.
In more severe cases, conjunctivitis can develop and patients complain of tearing (due to outward rotation of the lacrimal puncta), dryness of the eye and an annoying foreign body sensation.

What does the treatment look like?

Conservatively, appropriate eye ointments or replacement lacrimal fluid can be applied and the lower eyelid taped (fixed with plaster strips). The latter makes sense if the problem is obviously temporary, for example in the case of an infection.

Surgery must be performed in cases of severe deformity with corresponding symptoms. Depending on the problem, there are various surgical options. Here are some examples:

• The canthopexy is a suspension at the outer corner of the eyelid.
• Scar correction
• Lower eyelid shortening (tarsoraphy)
• The position of the lacrimal puncta can be corrected by a spindle-shaped tissue reduction on the inside of the eyelid.