A lid that sags away
The lower lid hangs away from the eye, often showing its red inner lining.
Ectropion Surgery in Singapore
Ectropion turns the lower eyelid out, so the eye waters and feels dry. This page covers why it happens, what eases it for now, and the operation that sets the lid back against the eye.
- Oculoplastic surgeon Dr Jason Lee
- Over 18 years in ophthalmology
- Same-day appointments, subject to availability
Camden (Orchard)OculoplasticsEyelids
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An oculoplastic surgeon
Dr Jason Lee, Senior Consultant Eye Surgeon and Medical Director, trained in the eyelids, the orbit and the tear system in fellowships in Taiwan and China.
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The cause is found first
A lid that sags with age, is pulled down by tight skin or drops with a weak facial muscle is repaired differently.
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Surgery at Camden
Ectropion surgery is carried out at our Camden clinic on Orchard Boulevard.
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What ectropion is
An eyelid normally rests against the eye. In ectropion, the medical name for a droopy lower eyelid, the lid sags or turns outward, so tears spill over and the eye is left exposed.
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The lower lid sags away from the eye, so tears spill over
In most people it comes with age: the lid and the tendons that hold it at each corner slacken, and it begins to sag. Less often, tight or scarred skin below the eye pulls it down, after an injury, a skin condition or earlier eyelid surgery; a facial nerve palsy weakens the muscle that holds the lid against the eye; or a lump on the lid weighs it down.
That is why the eye both waters and feels dry. The opening that drains tears sits on the inner edge of the lower lid, and once the lid turns out it no longer touches the eye, so tears run down the cheek while the exposed eye dries.
Lower eyelid sagging or watering? Talk to our friendly staff for an appointment with Dr Jason Lee.
Ectropion symptoms: what you may notice
A watering eye
Tears run down the cheek because they cannot reach the drainage opening.
Dry and gritty
A sore, gritty eye, often worse in the wind.
How ectropion is treated
The first step is protecting the eye while the lid is assessed.
- 1 Soothing the surface. Lubricating drops or ointment keep the exposed eye moist in the meantime.
- 2 Supporting the lid. Tape on the skin can hold the lid up for a while. It is a stop-gap, not a cure.
- 3 Repositioning it. For most people, a short operation that tightens the lid and sets it back against the eye is the lasting fix.
Ectropion surgery: setting the lid back
The ectropion operation depends on what made the lid sag. Often more than one step is done together.
- Tightening it. The lid is shortened slightly at the outer corner, so it sits firmly against the eye.
- Turning the inner corner in. A small repair on the inside of the lid turns the tear drainage opening back towards the eye.
- Adding skin. Where tight skin pulls the lid down, skin may be moved or grafted to release it.
The repair is matched to the cause, and which suits you is decided with Dr Jason at your consultation.
Anaesthetic
Local, with the eyelid numbed. You are awake, and the operation typically takes under an hour.
Stitches
Fine stitches hold the lid in place, and are removed or dissolve within about two weeks.
Afterwards
Bruising settles over one to two weeks. Avoid rubbing the eye while it heals.
Ectropion surgery is carried out by Dr Jason Lee at our Camden clinic, and only once the lid has been examined.
Ectropion or something else?
A watering, sore eye is not always a lid that has turned out, and the cause decides the treatment.
- Ectropion. The lower lid sags or turns outward, away from the eye, and its red lining may show.
- Entropion. The opposite: the lid rolls in, and its lashes rub the eye.
- A blocked tear duct. Tears spill with a sticky discharge, though the lid sits where it should.
- Loose skin or eye bags. Puffy or loose skin below the eye, with the lid edge still against it, is not ectropion.
- A droopy upper lid. An upper lid that sits low over the eye is ptosis, a different operation.
- Dry eye. A gritty, burning eye with the lid in place, treated with drops rather than surgery.
That is why the lid is examined before anything is decided. A lid that turns in is entropion, and an eye that waters with a sticky discharge can be a blocked tear duct.
What ectropion surgery costs
The surgery fee depends on the cause and the repair it needs, so it is quoted once the lid has been examined.
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Camden | |
| First consultation | $174.40 |
| Follow-up consultation | $119.90 |
| Ectropion surgery | Please enquire |
All fees shown are nett, with GST included. The surgery is charged separately, only where it is needed, and is quoted at your consultation. MediSave and Corporate and Personal Insurance can be used towards eligible surgery; we confirm what applies to you when you are seen.
Who carries out ectropion surgery
Ectropion surgery at The Straits Eye Centre is carried out by Dr Jason Lee, whose subspecialty is oculoplastics: the eyelids, the orbit and the tear drainage system. Talk to us for a quick appointment.
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Dr Jason Lee
Senior Consultant & Medical Director
The Straits Eye CentreMBBS · BMedSc · MMed (Ophth) · FRCOphth · FAMS
Common questions
What is the medical term for a droopy lower eyelid?
Ectropion, when the edge of the lower lid sags or turns away from the eye. Loose or puffy skin below an eye whose lid still rests against it is not ectropion.
Can ectropion go away on its own?
Not usually. Ectropion from an ageing lid tends to stay or slowly worsen, because the slack in the lid does not tighten again by itself. One caused by an inflamed skin condition, or by a facial palsy that recovers, can improve as the cause settles.
Can ectropion be fixed without surgery?
Not lastingly. Lubricating drops or ointment keep the exposed eye comfortable, and tape can support the lid for a while, but neither tightens it. Surgery is the lasting treatment.
Why does ectropion make the eye water?
The opening that drains tears sits on the inner edge of the lower lid. When the lid turns out, the opening turns away from the eye, so tears cannot reach it and run down the cheek. The exposed eye also dries out, which can set off more tears.
Is ectropion serious?
It is not an emergency, but it is worth treating. An eye left exposed can become dry and sore, and its surface is easier to scratch. An eye that turns painful and red, or whose vision blurs, should be seen promptly.
What is the difference between ectropion and entropion?
They are opposites. In ectropion the lower lid turns out, away from the eye, so it waters and feels dry. In entropion the lid rolls in, so its lashes rub the eye. Both are repaired by surgery that sets the lid back in place.
Can ectropion happen after eyelid surgery?
It can. Lower eyelid surgery can leave the lid pulled down while it heals, or through scarring. Some settles as the swelling goes down; some needs a repair.
Does ectropion surgery hurt?
Not during it. The eyelid is numbed with a local anaesthetic first. Afterwards it is usually sore and bruised for a few days, and ordinary painkillers are generally enough.
How long is the recovery after ectropion surgery?
Bruising and swelling usually settle over one to two weeks, and most people are back to ordinary activities within days. Avoid rubbing the eye, swimming and eye make-up while the lid heals, and any skin stitches are removed or dissolve within about two weeks.
Can ectropion come back after surgery?
It can, as the lid keeps ageing. Where it does come back, the lid can be repaired again.
Can I use MediSave or insurance for ectropion surgery?
Often, towards part of it. MediSave and Corporate and Personal Insurance can be used towards eligible surgery, and how much applies depends on your plan and the procedure. We confirm it at your consultation at our Camden clinic.
Who treats ectropion?
An eye surgeon, usually one whose subspecialty is oculoplastics: the eyelids, the orbit and the tear drainage system. At The Straits Eye Centre it is treated by Dr Jason Lee, Senior Consultant, at our Camden clinic.
Have a sagging lower eyelid looked at
Tell us which eye, how long the lid has sagged and whether it waters, and we will arrange the right appointment.
