What is the condition where the eyelashes roll in and rub against the cornea?

The condition where the eyelashes roll inwards and rub against the cornea is known as entropion. This condition occurs when the eyelid margin turns inward, leading to irritation and potential damage to the eye surface as the lashes come into contact with it. Patients with entropion often experience discomfort, watering of the eye, and may develop corneal abrasions or ulcerations as a consequence of the constant friction from the eyelashes.

Understanding entropion is essential because it can be both a congenital condition and an acquired one, often seen in older adults. Treatment typically involves surgical intervention to correct the eyelid position, thereby alleviating the symptoms and protecting the cornea from further damage.

Other choices describe different eyelid-related conditions that do not involve the inward turning of the eyelid. Ectropion, for instance, involves the eyelid turning outward, making it less likely for lashes to rub against the cornea. Blepharitis refers to inflammation of the eyelid margins, which can cause irritation but does not specifically involve the eyelashes rolling inwards. Trichiasis involves misdirected eyelashes but does not necessarily indicate the eyelid itself is turning inward like in entropion. Thus, the specificity of entropion as it relates