10 Reasons Your Eyelid is Turning Inward: Uncovering the Causes of Entropion

Imagine your eyelid, designed to shield your eye, suddenly deciding to turn inwards. This is the unsettling reality of entropion, a condition where eyelashes and skin begin to chafe against the eye's delicate surface with every blink, leading to a cascade of discomfort, irritation, and potentially serious issues. Whether it's a frustrating quirk that only happens when you squeeze your eyes shut or a constant, painful battle, untreated entropion can damage your cornea, invite infections, and even affect your vision. But what triggers this peculiar inward turn? We're about to delve into 10 key causes that can lead to entropion, offering crucial insights to help you understand and potentially prevent this troublesome eye condition.

1. Trachoma

While trachoma, a type of bacterial infection that affects the eyes, is somewhat rare in developed nations, millions of individuals around the world suffer from it. This condition is among the leading causes of blindness across the world, which is why entropion may be the less severe symptom patients suffer from if affected by trachoma. This condition is actually contagious through contact with the other individual's eyelids, eyes, or nasal secretions. The initial symptoms of trachoma include slight irritation and itching along eyes and eyelids. Once the infection begins to worsen in severity, patients may experience entropion as well as issues where the eyelids become swollen. Early treatment can stave off most health complications. Younger children are more susceptible to trachoma than other age groups, which is something to keep in mind. There are five separate stages of development for trachoma, which extend from follicular inflammation to corneal clouding. The symptoms patients experience will be most severe in the upper eyelid. If the condition isn't treated early enough, it's possible patients will suffer from blindness.