Ectropion

Ectropion mainly affects your lower eyelid and can happen in 1 or both eyelids at the same time. It's more common in older people.

The main symptoms of ectropion include:

• a drooping and sagging lower eyelid
• a sore, irritated and red eye and eyelid – eyelid redness may be harder to see on brown or black skin
• difficulty closing your eye
• watery eyes
• dry and gritty feeling eyes

It also means you're more likely to get infections like conjunctivitis.

• you think you have ectropion

A GP will be able to diagnose ectropion by examining your eye. They may refer you to an eye specialist (ophthalmologist) for further assessment.

Treatment depends on what symptoms you have and what's causing ectropion.

If your symptoms are mild, you may not need treatment.

If you cannot shut your eye properly, treatment may include:

• using eye ointment or drops to soothe your eye and stop it becoming dry
• taping your lower and upper eyelids together to protect your cornea (the clear, outer part at the front of the eye) – your eye specialist will show you how to do this with special skin tape

Try to avoid wiping or rubbing your eyes too much, as this can make ectropion worse. If you need to wipe your eyes, dab them gently and carefully with a clean tissue.

Surgery for ectropion

If ectropion is causing severe symptoms, you may need surgery to tighten the skin and muscles around your eye.

Find out more

• Cambridge University Hospitals: ectropion surgery

Ectropion is usually caused by aging, as the muscles around your eye become weaker.

Less commonly it can be caused by:

• using eye drops continuously for a long time
• nerve problems or conditions that cause facial paralysis, like Bell's palsy
• a lump, cyst or tumour on your eyelid
• damage to the skin around your eye because of an injury, burn or scarring from previous surgery

Ectropion usually makes your eyelid droop away from your eye. Your eyelid may look red and feel watery and uncomfortable.

Treatment for ectropion may include eye drops and taping your eyelids shut. If it's severe, you may need surgery.

Ectropion is usually caused by the muscles around your eye becoming weaker with age.