Ectropion

What is ectropion?

Ectropion is the medical term used to describe the outward turning of the lower eyelid. Ectropion can lead to excessive tearing, redness, mucous discharge and irritation of the eye. There is also a chance of permanent damage to the surface of the eye.

What is the treatment for ectropion?

Ectropion will need to be repaired surgically to relieve the symptoms and reposition the eyelid. Usually a small incision is made at the outer corner of the lower lid and the loose structures stretched and shortened, then re-sutured to the tissue overlying the bone at the outer corner. If there is a lack of skin in the lid a skin graft may be required.

The surgery lasts between 30 to 60 minutes and is usually performed under local anaesthesia (numbing injections around the eyelid) with or without sedation. The procedure is usually done as a day case, this means you can likely go home after the operation providing you are safe to do so. If surgery is performed on only one lid it is usually padded until the following day.