Ectropion, Entropion and Ptosis
Ectropion of the eyelid occurs when the eyelid margin turns outward award from the eyeball while entropion is when the eyelid margin is inverted and turns towards the eyeball. They both generally appear because of the horizontal laxity of the eyelid due to the degeneration of the associated tissue over time. Both conditions cause an irritation on the surface of the eye which could lead to corneal ulcers. Treatment of ectropion and entropion generally requires minor surgery using a local anaesthetic and which reinforces the weakened tissues in the eyelid.
Ptsosis of the upper eyelid, which is commonly known as “lazy eye”, is a condition caused by the weakening of the muscle responsible for lifting up the upper eyelid. Ptsosis becomes serious when the upper eyelid drops and covers the pupil, causing a loss of vision as a consequence.
The most common causes of ptsosis are a weakening of the upper eyelid tissue over time and a congenital abnormality of the upper eyelid (present at birth).
In less serious cases surgery is performed to improve the physical appearance of the patient’s eyelids while in more serious cases surgery is necessary to correct the patient’s vision. In the case of children with ptsosis, surgery may be needed to prevent the development of a lazy eye.