Irritated Eyes? It Could Be Your Eyelids
- Posted on: Mar 30 2018
Having irritated eyes is an unfortunate part of modern life. We spend hours on our devices and computers for work, to stay in touch and to pass the time. But irritated eyes could be a sign of a condition that requires treatment. You may have a tearing disorder or an abnormality with your eyelid, such as entropion and ectropion.
What is Entropion?
The eyelid should rest upon your eyeball and move easily when you blink. Entropion describes a condition in which the eyelid turns slightly inward, and it is most common on the lower eyelid. This causes the lashes to rub against the eye and trigger irritation, redness, excessive tearing and feeling as if you have something in your eye. Entropion may be caused by:
- Scars that develop after injury or trauma
- Medical conditions that cause swelling of the eyelid
- Aging
What is Ectropion?
Ectropion describes an outwardly turned eyelid that may also appear to sag. The majority of ectropion cases involves the lower eyelid, and symptoms include irritation crusting, excessive tearing, redness and swelling. The most common reason that people develop ectropion is aging. The skin has lower amounts of elastin and collagen, and this leads to sagging. Other reasons that people develop the condition are:
- Nerve conditions
- Surgery or trauma to the eyelid
- Certain types of skin cancer
- Burns and injuries
How are Entropion and Ectropion Treated?
The curling of the eyelid is easily repaired with a simple procedure in our office. Local anesthesia is used to numb the eyelid, and Dr. Tresley will modify the soft tissue to tighten the skin. This helps to form the eyelid to the eyeball and prevent further symptoms.
How Do I Know If I Have Entropion or Ectropion?
Entropion and ectropion can be difficult to diagnose on your own because the abnormality can be very subtle. If you experience chronic redness, tearing and other symptoms, we recommend that you meet with Dr. Tresley for an evaluation.
Do You Have Chronically Irritated Eyes? Contact Dr. Daniel Tresley.
Learn more about treatments for entropion, ectropion, Graves disease and other conditions, as well as cosmetic treatments, such as Botox® and blepharoplasty. Contact Dr. Daniel Tresley to schedule an appointment at our Chicago-area practice. You can contact our Northbrook office directly at (847) 291-6900.
Posted in: Ectropion Treatment
