Lower Lid Ectropium

Eversion of the lower eyelid.

An ectropium mostly develops at the lower eyelids, very rarely at the upper eyelids. Adults as well as children can get it.  The most common cause in the case of adults is an atony of the tissue which is around the eye. In the case of children it is mostly a congenital cause.

Skin diseases as eczemas, ichthyosis (alligator-skin disease) and tumors lead to an ectropium. Further reasons are vulnerations by accidents and (chemical) burns in the facial region.

In the course of an increasing number of aesthetical interventions and surgery of all medical departments, more and more erroneous cosmetic surgery of the eyelids and overdosed face-liftings cause a growing number of patients with an ectropium.

Symptoms are: epiphora, dry eyes / sicca symptoms, infections, irritations and a worse appearance.

The therapy is in general only a surgical one and depends on the cause.