Entropion: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Medically reviewed by Harsha Moole, MD, Internal Medicine. Last reviewed: October 23, 2026.
What kind of doctor treats Entropion?
An ophthalmologist, a doctor who treats eye problems, usually treats entropion. An oculoplastic surgeon, an eye doctor who does eyelid surgery, may repair it. In most cases, a health care provider can diagnose it by looking at your eyelids. A direct primary care or concierge doctor can be a first stop for an evaluation and can refer you to a specialist when needed.
What is entropion?
Entropion is the turning in of an edge of an eyelid. This causes the lashes to rub against the eye. It most often is seen on the lower eyelid. It can also happen on the upper eyelid.
It is one of the most common eyelid problems and is seen mainly in older adults. Doctors describe four main types of entropion. The most common type is involutional entropion. Spastic entropion comes from a muscle spasm in the eyelid. The scarring type, called cicatricial entropion, comes from long-term inflammation. Congenital entropion is present at birth.
Symptoms
Common symptoms of entropion include:
- Too much tearing.
- Eye irritation.
- Eye discomfort.
- Redness.
- A feeling that something is in the eye.
- Discharge from the eye.
- Decreased vision if the cornea, the clear front surface of the eye, is damaged.
Symptoms may come and go, depending on the cause. Dry eye and irritation may raise the risk for corneal abrasions, which are scrapes on the cornea. They may also raise the risk for corneal ulcers, which are open sores on the cornea, and for eye infections. In babies, entropion rarely causes problems because the lashes are very soft and do not easily damage the eye.
Causes and who gets it
In older people, the most common cause is a spasm or weakening of the muscles around the lower eye. Spastic entropion can be set off by local irritation, infection, or recent eye surgery. Another cause is trachoma, an eye infection that can scar the inner side of the lid. Trachoma is rare in North America and Europe.
Scarring entropion may also follow an injury, surgery, or radiation therapy. Risk factors include aging, a chemical burn, and infection with trachoma.
How doctors diagnose it
In most cases, a health care provider can diagnose entropion by looking at your eyelids. Special tests are not often needed. If entropion is suspected, an eye doctor should do a thorough eye exam. The doctor checks the cornea with a dye called fluorescein for scrapes, scarring, or thinning. To test how loose the lid is, the doctor pulls the lower lid down and watches it return to its original position.
Treatment
Artificial tears can keep the eye from becoming dry and may help you feel better. Surgery to correct the position of the eyelids works well in most cases.
Some options bring only short-term relief for involutional entropion. Taping the lower lid or injecting Botox (botulinum toxin) can help for a time. These steps are used until a person can have surgery, or if the person is too ill for surgery. Stitches that turn the lid outward can be placed in the office with local anesthesia, a numbing medicine. They give quick relief, but entropion can come back.
The surgery used depends on the type and cause of entropion. For severe scarring, surgeons can use a graft to support the inner layer of the lid. The graft can come from the roof of the mouth or another mucous membrane. The scarring type is considered the most difficult type to treat. For spastic entropion, the first step is to treat the underlying cause.
When to see a doctor
Contact your provider if your eyelids turn inward. Also contact your provider if you constantly feel as though there is something in your eye.
If you have entropion, treat these signs as an emergency. Call 911 or go to the emergency room right away for decreasing vision, light sensitivity, pain, or eye redness that increases rapidly.
See your provider if you have red eyes after a visit to a place with trachoma, such as North Africa or South Asia.
How a direct primary care or concierge doctor fits in
A direct primary care doctor charges a flat monthly fee instead of billing insurance, while a concierge doctor usually charges more and often works alongside insurance. Either can look at your eyelids and refer you to an eye doctor for care. They can also help you keep up with follow-up after treatment.
Common questions
Is entropion serious?
It can be if it is not treated. Dry eye and irritation from entropion may raise the risk for corneal abrasions, corneal ulcers, and eye infections. The outlook is most often good if the condition is treated before eye damage occurs.
Can entropion be prevented?
Most cases cannot be prevented. Treatment reduces the risk of complications.
Does entropion need surgery?
Often it does, because surgery is the treatment that corrects the eyelid position, and it works well in most cases. Artificial tears can help you feel better, and taping the lid or Botox injections can give temporary relief.
Can entropion happen on the upper eyelid?
Yes, it can happen on either eyelid. It most often is seen on the lower eyelid.
Sources
Medical Disclaimer
This content is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and reading it does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions about a medical condition, and never disregard or delay seeking professional advice because of something you read here. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 (or your local emergency number) immediately.
