Entropion Repair

Entropion most commonly occurs due to changes in muscles and other tissues around the eye because of ageing. Occasionally, scarring of the inner lining of the eyelid due to infections, injury or inflammation can also cause the lid to turn in.

Entropion can be diagnosed by a routine eye examination with an optician or ophthalmologist. If entropion is present, it is important to have the condition treated before permanent damage is caused to the eye.

Temporary relief of entropion can be achieved by taping the eyelid or by having an injection to weaken the muscle that causes the lid to turn in. This usually happens before a small operation can be performed for more permanent relief.

After your eyelids have healed, your eye will feel comfortable and you will no longer have the risks of infections, scarring or loss of vision.

There will always be a certain amount of bruising, swelling and mild bloodstaining of the tears after surgery. Other potential side-effects and risks from entropion repair are uncommon but could include:

• Bleeding and infection.
• Recurrence of the condition over time.
• Changes to the lid position which might require a further operation.
• Minimal scarring.
• Damage to the eyeball, nerves in the eye and other surrounding structures (extremely rare).

When you are first referred to Tetbury Hospital, an eye doctor (oculoplastic specialist ophthalmologist) will see you in the outpatient clinic. After we have discussed your options and if you decide to have the operation, you will need to have a pre-assessment. This is usually done over the phone or with a nurse at a pre-booked appointment.  

You are allowed to eat and drink before your surgery and take your tablet medication as normal except for anticoagulants (aspirin, clopidogrel and warfarin).

Aspirin and anti-coagulants. If you take aspirin or drugs such as warfarin to thin your blood, you will be asked to seek advice from your GP about whether you could reduce or stop these medications prior to your surgery. This is because blood thinning medications can make bleeding more likely during and after surgery. Please do not stop your anticoagulant medication without consulting a doctor. The consultant will inform you when to restart your medication before you leave the Day Surgery Unit.

Getting to and from the hospital. We advise you not to drive to the hospital for your operation. After the surgery, a pad may be placed over the affected eye and ointment will be used which will affect your vision. Please try and arrange for a friend or family member to take you to and from the hospital.

Entropion surgery is usually performed in our Day Surgery Unit under local anaesthetic. This means you will be awake during the operation, but you will be given an injection into the affected eyelid to numb the area and eye drops to make you feel more comfortable. Your surgery will be performed by a specialist eye surgeon who will tighten and reposition the affected tissues at the outer edge of the eyelid along with some stitches to stop the lid turning in, so that the eyelid rests in a more normal position. Stitches will be used to close the wound and a pad may be placed over your eye at the end of the operation.

The operation takes around 45 minutes per eyelid and your total length of stay at our hospital will be a couple of hours.

Before leaving the hospital, you will be given an eye ointment to apply to the affected eye three times a day for seven to ten days. To apply the ointment, put approximately 1cm of the eye ointment on a clean fingertip and gently apply to stitches area, or place directly on the wound.  Please carry on using any other eye drops you were prescribed before the surgery unless your consultant advises you to stop.

Please carry on using any other eye drops you were prescribed before the surgery unless your consultant advises you to stop.

The local anaesthetic will wear off after a couple of hours, but simple painkillers (paracetamol, ibuprofen) should be effective.

You can use a cold compress on the area for 10 mins every hour if needed; this will help reduce any swelling and bruising. A pair of non-rubber surgical gloves filled with cold water is an easy method or just a packet of frozen peas covered in something clean to avoid direct skin contact (to avoid frostbite).

We recommend you sleep with your head raised on a couple of pillows for two nights.

If you have any bleeding, please wash your hands thoroughly before applying gentle pressure for 10 minutes with a clean swab/makeup pad.

You will be advised on the day of your operation whether your stitches are dissolvable (resorbable, so will not need removing) or need to be removed in our outpatient clinic between one to two weeks after your operation. You will be given an appointment for this either on the day of surgery or the hospital will contact you.

An appointment will be made for you to be reviewed after your surgery in the Outpatient department in four to six weeks.