Entropion Repair

What is Entropion Repair

Entropion repair is a surgical procedure to tighten your eyelid and turn it outward. Entropion is a condition that causes one eyelid to fold inward and rub against your eyeball.

The condition usually affects the lower lid. Entropion can happen with age as the skin and muscle tone of your face become less tight. It can also result from abnormal anatomy of the inside of the eyelid (deformity), scarring, or certain skin diseases.

With entropion, the eyelid may turn in only when the eye closes during sleep or while blinking, or it may happen all the time. If your eyelid is always turned in, you may need entropion repair to prevent damage to the front part of your eye (cornea).

Tell a health care provider about:

• Any allergies you have.
• All medicines you are taking, including vitamins, herbs, eye drops, creams, and over-the-counter medicines.
• Any problems you or family members have had with anesthetic medicines.
• Any blood disorders you have.
• Any surgeries you have had.
• Any medical conditions you have.

What are the risks?

Generally, this is a safe procedure. However, problems can occur and include:

• Bruising and swelling of your eye area.
• Bleeding.
• Infection.

What happens before the procedure?

• Ask your health care provider about:
  • Changing or stopping your regular medicines. This is especially important if you are taking diabetes medicines or blood thinners.
  • Taking medicines such as aspirin and ibuprofen. These medicines can thin your blood.Do nottake these medicines before your procedure if your health care provider instructs you not to.
• Do noteat or drink anything after midnight on the night before the procedure or as directed by your health care provider.
• Plan to have someone take you home after the procedure.

What happens during the procedure?

• An IV tube may be inserted into a vein.
• A medicine that numbs the area (local anesthetic) will be injected into your lower eyelid with a tiny needle. You may also be given a medicine to make you relax (sedative).
• The surgeon will make a small incision below the outer corner of your eye. The surgeon will tighten the connections to the muscles that surround and support your lower eyelid.
• The incision may be closed with stitches that will disintegrate over time as your eye heals (absorbable sutures).
• The surgeon may also put in a few sutures just below your eyelid to turn it outward (everting sutures).
• Antibiotic eye ointment may be applied over your incision and in your eye.
• Your eye will be covered with an eye patch.

What happens after the procedure?

• You may spend some time in a recovery area.
• Your blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, and blood oxygen level will be monitored often until the medicines you were given have worn off.
• You will need to wear your eye patch as directed by your health care provider.
• Your health care provider will also give you instructions for using eye ointment.

Care After Entropion Repair

These instructions provide you with information about caring for yourself after your procedure. Your health care provider may also give you more specific instructions.

Your treatment has been planned according to current medical practices, but problems sometimes occur. Call your health care provider if you have any problems or questions after your procedure.

What can I expect after the procedure?

After your procedure, it is typical to have the following:

• Pain.
• Swelling.
• Bruising.
• Eye watering and irritation.

Follow these instructions at home:

• Wear your eye patch as directed by your health care provider.
• Take medicines only as directed by your health care provider. Use eye ointment as directed.
• Apply ice to the eye area as needed to relieve swelling:
  • Put ice in a plastic bag.
  • Place a towel between your skin and the bag.
  • Leave the ice on for 20 minutes, 2–3 times per day.
• Keep all follow-up visits as directed by your health care provider. This is important.

Contact a health care provider if:

• You have yellowish-white fluid (pus) leaking from your incision.
• Your eye becomes red and inflamed.
• The edges of your incision break open after the stitches (sutures) have been removed.
• It feels like there is something in your eye after surgery.
• You have a fever.