500 DISEASES OF THE EYELIDS 



lid will be drawn outward or everted. Care should be used 

 to avoid injury to the deeper structures or the margin of the 

 lid. A certain amount of judgment is necessary to determine 

 the amount of skin to remove in each case. After operation 

 the wound is covered with an impervious dressing (flexible 

 collodion, airol paste). In two or three days the sutures 

 may be removed. Recovery is prompt and complete in 

 most cases. Eye complications should be treated according 

 to their condition. 



Ectropion.— Definition.— An eversion of the eyelid in part 

 or the whole lid. It is rare in animals. Some breeds are more 

 predisposed than others (bloodhounds, pointers) . The lower 

 lid is most frequently involved due to the lesser curvature as 

 compared to the upper. 



Etiology.— The common causes of this condition are: 

 Wounds with cicatrix formation, lacerations of the margin 

 of the lid, ulceration and abscess formation of the lid, and 

 inflammation of the conjunctiva. All of these conditions 

 tend to force the margin of the lid outward. Paralysis of the 

 facial nerve allows the lower lid to fall outward. 



Symptoms.— The prominence of the conjunctiva of the 

 lower lid and the formation of a more or less deep gutter 

 from the separation of the palpebral edge from the cornea 

 are present in all cases. The conjunctiva is reddened, 

 thickened, and there is a more or less constant flow of tears 

 down over the face. 



Prognosis.— The majority of cases can be relieved by 

 surgical means. It might be possible that the operation will 

 need to be repeated to properly approximate the parts. 



Treatment.— In mild cases, resulting from congestion of 

 the conjunctiva, relief is afforded by removing the cause and 

 treating with mild astringents and antiseptics (0.5 to 1 per 

 cent, zinc sulphate solution). 



When the conjunctiva is chronically thickened forcing 

 the palpebral edge outward, it is advisable to remove a 

 portion of the conjunctiva. The resulting contracture of 

 the wound in healing will bring the lid back in position. 

 Codrenin solution should be instilled into the tissues before 

 operating to reduce the pain and control the hemorrhage. 



