Ectropions

Palpebral ectropions are an abnormality of the palpebral position, characterized by an eversion of the eyelid free edge; they may affect both the upper and the lower eyelids. Ectropions may be congenital or acquired. The acquired type encompasses involutional, cicatricial, mechanical, and paralytic ectropions. The pathophysiological mechanisms, often combined, are a tissue slackening responsible for hypotonic ectropions (involutional and paralytic forms), and a tissular retraction responsible for cicatricial ectropions. Whichever the etiology, the treatment is surgical. It necessitates a good semiotic analysis and knowledge of the palpebral anatomy. It consists of two basic techniques that may be combined: restoration of the slackened eyelid tension and stretching of the palpebral retraction.