Treating ectropion

Treatment for ectropion dependson its severity and the underlying cause. Mild cases may not need any treatment.

If it's onlycausing minor problems, yourGP or eye specialist can advise you about ways to relieve your symptoms and look after your eyes at home.

In more severe cases,an operation to correct the problem will probably be recommended.

Looking after your eyes

Your doctor may recommend usingeye drops during the dayand eye ointment at night to reduce irritation and keep your eye lubricated.

Try not to wipe your eyes excessively, as this canpull onthe eyelid and make the problemworse. If you need to wipe your eyes, it's best to do this gently and wipe upwards and inwards (towards your nose).

If an operationis recommended, you may be advised to tape your eyelids closed at night with special skin tape as a temporary measure, to help protect your eyes while you wait to have surgery.

Surgery

Surgery for ectropion is a relatively minor procedure that takes up to 45 minutes and is usually carried out under local anaesthetic . It's normally performed on an outpatient basis, which means you won't need to stay in hospital overnight.

Various different techniques can be used, depending on how severe your ectropion is and the underlying cause.

Following surgery, a pad will be placed over your eye to protect it. This will need to remain in place for about a day. A course of antibiotic and steroid drops or ointment will usually be prescribed to help prevent infection and reduce inflammation.

You'll have a follow-up appointment a week or two after your operation. This is to check on the position of your eyelid and sometimes to remove any stitches.