Home            Past Issues            About IP            About IAP           Author Information            Subscription            Advertisement              Search  

   
images

Indian Pediatr 2010;47: 1051

Congenital Ectropion


Indu Surana and Sunil Surana

Mitra Sangh Hospital, 116, Rajballav Saha lane,
Howrah (WB) 711 101, India.
Email: [email protected] 
 


A six month old girl presented with eversion of the uppereyelids since the neonatal period. The eversion was more prominent on crying. She also had clinical features of Down syndrome like generalized hypotonia, upward slant of eyes and a protruding tongue (Fig.1). Skin examination was normal. A clinical diagnosis of upper eyelid congenital ectropion was made. As the ophthalmological examination revealed no exposure keratopathy she was managed conservatively with corneal lubricants. On follow-up at six months, her condition is stable.

Fig. 1 Bilaterally everted upper eyelids in Down syndrome.

Ectropion is also associated with conditions like collodion baby where the neonate is covered at birth by a thick membrane, flattening of the ears and nose and o-shaped fixation of lips. Some forms of chronic dermatitis like epidermolysis bullosa also cause ectropion in the long run. Bells palsy and facial nerve palsy were ruled out by the absence of facial palsy. Eyelid cysts, tumors and scarring due to trauma were ruled out by their absence. Though the ocular findings in Down syndrome are varied, ectropion is one of the rarest. This condition may resolve spontaneously with conservative treatment or may need surgical intervention to prevent complications if conservative treatment fails.
 

 

Copyright© 1999 by the Indian Pediatrics (Disclaimer)