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ECTROPION First broadcast on www.provet.co.uk As part of Provet's Focus
on Eyes Week
Note for Pet Owners:
This information is provided by
Provet for educational purposes only.
You should seek the advice of
your veterinarian if your pet is ill as only he or she can correctly advise
on the diagnosis and recommend the treatment that is most appropriate for
your pet. Topics on this Page:
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Description
Ectropion is an abnormal distortion of the eyelids in which they roll outwards so
that there is exposure of the underlying conjunctiva. It only affects the lower
eyelid. and the entropion may affect the whole length of a lid or just part of it. Sometimes
ectropion and entropion (turning in of the lid) are present at the same time.
Tears collect in the pocket that this creates, and if the tear duct is out of
position tears may overflow from the eye.
Cause
Ectropion can be :
- A congenital defect, which is prevalent in some breeds (see below)
- scarring following the healing of wounds (burns, injuries or inflammatory diseases) involving the eyelids
- as an age-related change (loss of tone in the muscle and skin)
- when there is spasm of the orbicularis muscle in the eyelid
Breed Occurrence
Congenital ectropion is most commonly seen in Breeds with excessive facial skin
folds including the Bloodhound, Bullmastiff, Cocker Spaniel,
Newfoundland, St Bernard, Springer
Spaniel.
Signs
Clinical signs inclu
Complications
Diagnosis
Diagnosis can be made by visual examination of the eyelids
Treatment
If the ectropion is minor, simply an undesirable cosmetic affect and not causing
any clinical signs no treatment is necessary.
For ectropion associated with clinical signs, there
are many surgical procedures to correct the alignment of the eyelids involving
plastic surgery of the skin and muscle adjacent to the eyelid
margins - various techniques have been described which incorporate the use of a
scalpel or laser technology.
Prognosis Long term problems
The prognosis is good .
Updated January2016
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