Patient will present as → a 75-year-old with a foreign body sensation and tearing of his right eye. On physical exam, you note a red, irritated right eye in association with an inverted eyelid.
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Entropion (inversion of an eyelid) is caused by age-related tissue relaxation, postinfectious or posttraumatic changes, or blepharospasm
- Eyelid turned in
- Eyelashes rub against the eyeball and may lead to corneal ulceration and scarring
- Symptoms can include foreign body sensation, tearing, and red eye
Diagnosis is clinical (eyelids turn in)
TX: tear supplements and ocular lubricants at night
- Definitive treatment is surgery
Question 1 |
Immediate referral to ophthalmology for surgical correction | |
Prescribe artificial tears and schedule a follow-up in 3 months Hint: While artificial tears can provide temporary symptomatic relief, they do not address the underlying cause of the corneal ulceration. Delaying definitive treatment can lead to further complications. | |
Prescribe a short course of corticosteroid eye drops Hint: Corticosteroids are not the first-line treatment for entropion and can potentially worsen the corneal ulceration. | |
Instruct the patient to use Tobramycin eye drops for 5 days Hint: While Tobramycin can treat bacterial infections, it does not address the mechanical irritation caused by entropion. | |
Apply a protective eye patch and reassess in one week Hint: An eye patch may protect the cornea temporarily, but it does not correct the inward turning of the eyelid. Delaying surgical correction can lead to further corneal damage. |
Question 2 |
Advanced age Hint: Aging is a significant risk factor for entropion due to the relaxation of eyelid tissues and weakening of the muscles around the eyes. | |
Chronic blepharitis Hint: Inflammation of the eyelid margins, as seen in chronic blepharitis, can lead to scarring and changes in eyelid tension, contributing to entropion. | |
Facial nerve palsy Hint: This condition can lead to muscle weakness around the eye, potentially resulting in eyelid malpositions such as entropion. | |
Excessive use of contact lenses | |
Scarring from ocular trauma Hint: Scarring can disrupt the normal anatomy and tension of the eyelid, leading to entropion. |
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List |
References: Merck Manual · UpToDate
Lecture
