A lot of problems develop as a result of damaged eyelids. Entropion is a specific condition that occurs when your lower eyelids start to turn inwards. This causes the bottom eyelashes to uncomfortably rub against the eyeball, which can be both painful and irritating. The eyelids may be stuck in this position for long periods of time without professional eyelid inversion repair. This intervention can save your vision and your eyelids. But what causes entropion itself?
What Causes Entropion?
Is it an inherited condition, or does it come about as a result of physical injury? Today, Dr. Cutler Peck will outline the biggest symptoms and causes of the condition so you know how to seek the best treatment.
What Entropion Looks (and Feels) Like
Entropion can develop quite rapidly, so it’s important to be on the lookout for some common symptoms. Not everyone experiences the same symptoms, but it is quite common to feel one or more of these at the same time:
- Constant tearing up or consistently watery eyes
- Feeling irritation or pain along the bottom lids
- Redness and puffiness around the affected area
- The sensation that something is in your eye, like an eyelash
- Scratching along the eyelid or eyeball
- Pain or sensitivity when the eye is hit with the light or a breeze
These symptoms can exacerbate over time, especially when left untreated. For example, redness can grow until the eyes are swollen. Swollen eyes can permanently affect your vision and cause a slew of other eye health problems. You need to see a doctor right away if you experience any of the above sensations.
Biggest Causes of Entropion
You know what entropion is and what it feels like. But where does it come from? Finding the cause of entropion can sometimes be difficult in individual patients because there are many of them. However, our doctor does a thorough assessment of your health and health history to figure out where your entropion may have come from.
Below are some of the biggest causes of the condition:
Chronic Eye Infections
Eye infections happen for many reasons, but they usually do not become an issue when you treat them right away. Multiple eye infections, or a specific eye infection known as trachoma, can be linked to entropion. It is described as a painful infection that scars the inner eyelid, making entropion more likely to occur.
Weak Eyelid Muscles
Everything gets weaker as you age. Your skin, muscles, and eyes are especially susceptible to the effects of growing older. The muscles that control your eyelids are small and complex. Not to mention, they are responsible for pulling a lot of weight. It is no surprise that they are the first to show some of the physical signs of aging on your body.
As your eyelid muscles weaken, it becomes more difficult to control the precise movements of your eyelids. This can cause them to curl inward, making it difficult to return them to a normal position.
Physical Trauma
You might have been faced with a physical injury in the past that has left you with some scarring. You can also have scars from a previous surgery, such as upper or lower blepharoplasty. No matter the source of your physical trauma, these scars are proof that your eyelids have not been able to fully heal. A quick visit to Dr. Cutler Peck will confirm that your eyelid damage is increasing your risk of entropion.
Irritation and Inflammation
You might have recently gone through another eye condition like dry eye, pink eye, or another infection. If your symptoms include inflammation, then you are more susceptible to entropion. Inflammation is an itchy process, and a lot of people try to relieve this pain by rubbing their eyes. Though you may be tempted to rub or itch your eyes, this can directly result in entropion. Do not rub your eyes or squeeze them shut when they are inflamed, as they can easily become inverted.
Treating and Preventing Entropion
If you are at risk of entropion, you may not be able to fully prevent it. You can lessen your symptoms through a customized treatment plan that you develop with Dr. Cutler Peck and her team of eyelid restoration experts. Whether due to an infection or a previous injury, eyelid inflammation is a serious thing. This symptom can put you at risk for entropion and similar conditions that cause your eyelids to become permanently inverted.
Entropion treatments include prescribed eye drops and non-surgical therapy. In more severe cases, entropion surgery might be necessary. This quick outpatient procedure tightens muscles and repositions your eyelids so they can properly open and close. Most of our patients claim that they have had the most success with entropion surgery over other treatment methods.
Visit our eyelid care center in Rexburg, Idaho for more information about entropion diagnosis and treatment.