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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staffEntropion can have several different causes, including:
- Muscle weakness. As you age, the muscles under your eyes tend to get weaker and the tendons also may relax. If muscles and tendons get weak and relaxed enough, entropion can develop.
- Scars or previous surgeries. Scarred skin from chemical burns, trauma, surgery or radiation to your face can distort the normal curve of the eyelid, causing entropion.
- Skin diseases or infections. Previous skin infections or skin diseases, such as ocular herpes, can result in entropion. Although rare in North America, an eye infection called trachoma is still common in North Africa and South Asia. Trachoma can cause scarring of the inner eyelid, leading to entropion and even blindness from the corneal complications.
- Eye surgery. An eyelid problem called spastic entropion affects some people temporarily after eye surgery, usually lasting only until the eye is completely healed. In some cases, entropion persists after healing is complete. Spastic entropion can also result from infection, inflammation or trauma.
- Abnormal fetal development. Very rarely, entropion is present at birth (congenital). More often, a baby with turned-in eyelashes at birth has an extra fold of skin on the eyelid, called epiblepharon.
References
- Pereira MG, et al. Eyelid entropion. Seminars in Ophthalmology. 2010;25:52.
- Entropion — eyelids that turn in. American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. http://www.asoprs.org/files/public/InfoEntropion.pdf. Accessed Aug. 10, 2010.
- Burton MJ. Trachoma: An overview. British Medical Bulletin. 2007;84:99.
- Barnes JA, et al. Simple effective surgery for involutional entropion suitable for the general ophthalmologist. Ophthalmology. 2006;113:92.
- Gigantelli JW. Entropion. In: Yanoff M, et al. Ophthalmology. 2nd ed. Maryland Heights, Mo.: Mosby Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/215118653-2/1038339548/1869/576.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-04332-8..00235-3_5190. Accessed Aug. 12, 2010.
- Robertson DM (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Aug. 16, 2010.
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