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Lid Problems |
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Conditions affecting the lid can cause damage to vision by causing changes in the cornea apart from usual lid related symptoms like watering, burning, irritation etc.
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Ectropion
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Ectropion is a saggy lower eye lid which turns outside and leaves the exposed part of the eye dry and makes it susceptible to infection. It happens as a result of loss of tone of the eye lid muscles which keep the eye lid taut against the eye. Increased tearing as a result of this can make you wipe the tears and that it can cause worsening of the ectropion. It is more common among older people.
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Causes:
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- Age related slackening of the muscles of the lid.
- Injury related scarring below the lid can cause pulling of the lid.
- Occasionally as a hypersensitive reaction to any eye drops (medication).
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Signs and Symptoms
- Irritation .
- Burning.
- Gritty, sandy feeling.
- Excessive tearing.
- Red, irritated eyelid.
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Treatment
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The irritation can be temporarily relieved with artificial tears and ointments to lubricate the eye; however, surgery to tighten the lid is usually necessary to correct this problem.
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Entropion
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In this condition lower eyelid turns inward, rubbing against the eye. Again this condition is more common in older people. Rubbing against the eye ball can cause irritation, burning, watering and red eye.
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Signs and Symptoms
- Sagging skin around the eyes.
- Redness and pain of the eye .
- Sensitivity to light and wind .
- Untreated entropions may cause ulcers on the cornea.
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Treatment
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Early stages require taping of the eye lid with lubrication, but in severe cases it will require surgery to correct the problem and prevent loss of vision.
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Ptosis
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Ptosis is drooping of the upper eye lid.
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Causes:
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- Weakness of the levator muscle (muscle that raises the lid), or a problem with the nerve that sends messages to the muscle.
- Age related .
- Various diseases.
- Injury.
- Birth defect.
- Previous eye surgery .
In some cases, it may be associated with a squint, if left untreated, ptosis may prevent vision from developing properly, resulting in amblyopia or lazy eye in children.
Patients with ptosis often have difficult blinking, which may lead to irritation, infection and eyestrain. If a sudden and obvious lid droop is developed, an ophthalmologist should be consulted immediately.
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Signs and Symptoms
- Drooping lid (may affect one or both eyes) .
- Irritation.
- Difficulty closing the eye completely .
- Eye fatigue from straining to keep eye(s) open .
- Children may tilt head backward in order to lift the lid .
- Crossed or misaligned eye.
- Double vision .
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Diagnosis
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Ptosis examination includes measurement of the height of the eyelid, strength of the eyelid muscles, evaluation of eye movements and alignment. Children may require additional vision testing for amblyopia.
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Treatment
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| It requires surgery to correct the problem. If the levator muscle (which pulls the lid) is weak, muscle is strengthened by shortening. If it is excessively weak, the lid and eyebrow may be lifted. |
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