Ectropion

Ectropion is the turning out of the eyelid (usually the lower eyelid) so that the inner surface is exposed. Ectropion is usually caused by the aging process and the weakening of the connective tissue of the eyelid, which causes the lid to turn out. It can also be caused by contraction of scar tissue from burns or from facial palsy and may occur as a congenital defect.  Ectropion interferes with normal distribution of tears on the surface of the eye and may result in dry painful eyes, chronic conjunctivitis, and keratitis.

Ptosis

Ptosis is also called "drooping eyelid." It is caused by weakness of the muscle responsible for raising the eyelid, damage to the nerves which control those muscles, or laxity of the skin of the upper eyelids.  Drooping eyelid can be caused by the normal aging process, a congenital abnormality (present before birth), or the result of an injury or disease.

If an underlying disease is found, the treatment may be specific to that disease. Most cases are associated with aging and no underlying disease will be found.

Surgical correction can be done to improve the appearance of the eyelids in milder cases if the patient desires it, and may be necessary to correct interference with vision in more severe cases. In children with ptosis, surgical correction may be necessary to prevent amblyopia.

Excessive Tearing

Tears are necessary for the normal lubrication of the eye and to wash away particles and foreign bodies. Excessive tear production or improper drainage of the tear duct results in watery eyes. Irritation, infection, and inward-growing eyelashes can also cause watery eyes. An infection or blockage of the tear duct can also cause excessive watering of the eyes when tears do not drain normally through the nose.

Increased tearing is sometimes accompanied by yawning, vomiting, laughing, and eyestrain.

Oddly enough, one of the most common causes of tearing is dry eyes. Drying causes the eyes to become uncomfortable which stimulates the body to produce too many tears. One of the main evaluations for tearing is to check if the eyes are too dry!

orbital diseases

The orbit is the bony pyramid-shaped cavity of the skull that contains and protects the eyeball and associated structures. Orbital pseudotumor is a swelling of the orbital tissues behind the eye, but unlike cancerous tumors, it cannot invade tissues or spread elsewhere.  Mild cases may regress without treatment. More severe cases will usually respond to treatment with corticosteroids. Very severe cases may develop damaging pressure on the eye and require surgical movement of the bones of the orbit to decompress the eyeball.