Entropion

What is it?

With entropion, part of the eyelid rolls inward so eyelid hair rubs against the cornea, the clear surface of the eye. This can cause pain, ulcers, pigment on the cornea, and vision problems. It is usually a developmental, hereditary problem in young, growing dogs, often in both eyes. Breeds affected include the Chinese shar-pei, chow chow, bloodhound, bullmastiff, English bulldog, golden and Labrador retrievers, Great Dane, rottweiler, and standard poodle, among others. It can also follow eye pain or scarring in any dog.

What signs should I watch for?

Most dogs squint, hold the eye shut, and have watery tearing; some have a mucus-like discharge. Long-standing cases can lead to blood vessels or pigment growing on the cornea and obvious pain. Some flat-faced dogs with entropion at the inner corner show little discomfort. It is usually diagnosed before one year of age.

How is it diagnosed and treated?

Your veterinarian diagnoses entropion by examining the eyelids and eye. Surgery removes a small section of eyelid skin to roll the lid back out, often in two stages to avoid over-correcting, and is usually done once the dog is near adult size. Young puppies of some breeds may get temporary tacking stitches first, and filler injections can be a temporary option for dogs at high anesthetic risk. Eye drops or ointments protect the cornea before and after surgery.

Can it be prevented, and what's the outlook?

• The outlook after surgery is generally good, and most dogs live a normal, pain-free life, though permanent vision loss can occur if corneal scarring develops first.
• Because the condition is inherited, dogs with severe entropion that needed surgery should not be bred.