Also called entropion. The lid rolls inwards and the lashes rub the eye.
What it is
Entropion is a lid, usually the lower one, that rolls inwards so the lashes rub against the surface of the eye.
Symptoms
A gritty, sore, watering red eye, and the feeling of something in the eye that will not come out. It is often worse on waking.
Causes
Loosening of the tissues with age, scarring inside the lid, or spasm of the muscles around the eye.
When to get it checked
Have it checked soon. Lashes rubbing the eye can scar the surface over time.
How it is checked
Every plan starts with an examination by a consultant, not a photograph or a questionnaire.
- Your consultant examines your lids, measures their height and position, and checks the surface of your eye and how well it closes. Photographs are taken for your record.
- What your consultant finds is explained in plain English, there and then.
- You leave with a written plan and, where treatment is right for you, a written fee.
- You are never asked to decide on the day.
If surgery is not the right answer, your consultant will say so, and explain what happens if you do nothing.
Questions patients ask
Do I need a referral?
No. You can request a consultation directly. A letter from your GP or optometrist is helpful if you have one, and your insurer may ask for it.
Will I need surgery?
Not always. Your consultant will explain whether treatment is needed, what each option involves, and what happens if you do nothing.
What happens at the consultation?
Your consultant examines your lids, measures their height and position, and checks the surface of your eye and how well it closes. Photographs are taken for your record. You leave with a written plan and fee, and time to decide.
How soon can I be seen?
The clinic team will offer the first suitable appointment, and sooner where your consultant judges it urgent.