EYELID MALPOSITIONS
A normal, healthy eyelid should have a natural tension that allows it to cover and protect the eyeball. Occasionally, as a result of aging, sun exposure, trauma, or scarring, eyelid tension can become unbalanced, causing the eyelid to turn outward or inward.
Common Symptoms:
- Itchy Eyes
- Tearing
- Recurrent Eye Infections
- Red Eyes
- Dry eyes
These symptoms are often treated with lubricating drops, Restasis®, anti-allergy drops, and blepharitis. In order for these treatments to be successful, the eyelids need to be in a normal anatomical position to allow tears to distribute over the surface of the eye. The position of the eyelids also contributes to the drainage of tears from the surface of the eye into the tear ducts. The lower lid positions can change with age, trauma, sun damage, injections into the eye or prior surgery. Ectropion is a condition where eyelid turns outward.
The out-turned eyelid may become red and irritated, resulting in discomfort, tearing, or recurrent eye infections. When the eyelid turns inward, this condition is called entropion. The in-turned eyelashes can irritate the eye, resulting in discomfort, redness, and corneal damage often referred to as trichiasis. In many practice settings, lashes that are touching the eye are treated by targeting treatment at the root of the lashes. Dr. Kashyap performs permanent removal of the lashes during surgery, which repositions the eyelid and removes in-turned lashes at their base.
