CONDITION
Entropion
Entropion describes an inward rolling of the eyelid, so that the edge of the lid and the hairs on its outer surface turn in towards the eye itself. This places fur and skin in direct contact with the cornea (the clear front surface of the eye), which can lead to irritation, discomfort, and damage over time. Owners often notice persistent squinting, watering, or a reluctance to open the affected eye fully, particularly in younger dogs of certain breeds or in older animals, cats in particular, whose eyelid support has changed. The eye may appear red or inflamed, and some pets paw at their face. In many cases, the inward roll is visible when looking at the eye from the side, though subtle cases can be harder to spot. This page explores what entropion looks like in practice, what happens beneath the surface when the eyelid folds inward, how the condition is identified during examination, and the range of approaches (both short-term and longer-term) that exist to address it. The shape and severity vary considerably, and the timeline for intervention depends on the degree of discomfort and risk to the eye.
Why this matters now
In dogs, entropion can be evident at a very young age in predisposed breeds, and it is usually diagnosed within the first year of life as the head and facial features mature. Breed-related conformational entropion is common in dogs such as Shar Peis, Chow Chows, Bulldogs and brachycephalic breeds. In cats, entropion is less common. It is seen most often in older cats, where the eyelid slackens or the eye sinks back in the socket, and in younger cats after existing eye irritation such as conjunctivitis or a corneal ulcer. Persians and Maine Coons are among the breeds affected. In either species it can also develop at any age after scarring, chronic eye conditions or muscle changes.
The condition typically begins with mild inward rolling of the eyelid margin that may initially cause intermittent irritation. As the rolled eyelid causes ongoing corneal contact, more significant inflammation and discomfort develop. Chronic cases can lead to corneal damage including ulceration, perforation, scarring, and pigmentation that may permanently affect vision. The degree of inward rolling can change as a young animal grows: it may worsen, or it may diminish and even resolve.
Signals & patterns
Early signals
Excessive tearing or watery eyes
Irritation from eyelid contact stimulates tear production as a protective response.
Mild squinting or increased blinking
Discomfort causes animals to partially close the affected eye, particularly in bright light.
Visible hair touching the corneal surface
The rolled eyelid brings eyelid hair or eyelashes into contact with the eye.
Rubbing or pawing at the eye
Animals may attempt to relieve discomfort by rubbing the affected area.
Later signals
Marked squinting or holding the eye closed
Significant discomfort or corneal damage causes persistent partial or complete eyelid closure. Pain shown by heavy tearing and a tightly closed eye is a common sign of corneal ulceration, and whether an ulcer is present cannot be told by looking at the eye at home.
Mucoid or purulent discharge
Secondary bacterial involvement may cause thicker, coloured discharge.
Visible corneal cloudiness or pigmentation
Chronic irritation can cause the normally clear cornea to become hazy or develop brown pigmentation.
Corneal ulceration
Persistent friction from hair against the cornea can break down the corneal surface, leaving a painful ulcer. An ulcer is confirmed with fluorescein dye, and its depth cannot be judged at home. Shallow ulcers usually heal within a week, but the rubbing lid is a mechanical cause that stays in place, and any ulcer can become infected or deepen. Perforation of the cornea is among the published results of untreated entropion.
Click to read about the biological mechanisms
How this is usually investigated
Diagnosis is typically made through careful ophthalmic examination. Further assessment determines the severity and identifies any secondary corneal damage.
Visual examination of eyelid position
Fluorescein staining
Slit lamp biomicroscopy
Assessment of tear production
Evaluation of facial conformation
Options & trade-offs
Management aims to correct the abnormal eyelid position and address any secondary corneal damage. Approaches vary depending on severity and whether the animal is still growing.
Temporary tacking or sutures
Sutures placed to evert the eyelid as a temporary measure, often used in young growing animals.
Trade-offs: Avoids permanent surgery in animals whose facial conformation may still change. May need repeating. Some puppies need no further surgery afterwards.
Surgical correction
Procedures that remove a crescent of skin and muscle to permanently correct eyelid position.
Trade-offs: Gives a lasting correction of eyelid position. In young dogs it is usually delayed until the head is close to its adult size, at about 5 to 6 months old. Over- or under-correction can occur and may require revision.
Medical management of secondary effects
Lubricants and medications to protect the cornea and treat any ulceration.
Trade-offs: Addresses consequences but not the underlying cause. Ongoing treatment may be needed until surgical correction is performed.
Multiple staged procedures
Planned sequential surgeries for severe cases or breeds with marked conformational issues.
Trade-offs: May achieve better outcomes in complex cases. Involves multiple anaesthetics and recovery periods.
Common misconceptions
"Puppies will grow out of entropion"
Entropion in a very young puppy may diminish or even resolve as the head matures, and temporary tacking of the eyelids is used to hold the lid away from the eye over that period. Which puppies will outgrow it cannot be predicted, and for as long as the lid stays rolled in, hair keeps rubbing on the cornea, with ulceration and scarring as recognised results.
"Entropion surgery is purely cosmetic"
Surgical correction addresses a painful condition that causes ongoing corneal irritation and potential vision loss. It is a functional rather than cosmetic procedure.
"Eye drops can cure entropion"
Medications can provide temporary comfort and protect the cornea, but cannot correct the structural eyelid abnormality. Established entropion usually requires surgery to correct the eyelid position.
Related conditions
Corneal Ulcers
Entropion can lead to corneal ulcers when the inward-rolled eyelid causes hairs and skin to rub repeatedly against the cornea, creating friction that damages the surface. In some cases, a corneal ulcer may be the first sign that prompts examination of the eyelid position.
The page on this condition is being checked again and is offline for now.
Distichiasis
Both entropion and distichiasis involve abnormal contact between hair and the corneal surface, though distichiasis arises from extra lashes growing in unusual locations rather than a structural change in eyelid position. Some animals may have both conditions at once, and the clinical signs (squinting, watering, and redness) often overlap.
Ectropion
Ectropion describes the opposite structural change to entropion: the eyelid margin is slack and turns outward rather than inward. It occurs mainly in larger dog breeds with long eyelids. The two are linked through surgery, because over-correction of entropion can leave the lid turned outward, which is one reason entropion correction is sometimes staged over two procedures.
Cherry Eye
Cherry eye and entropion both involve disruption of normal eyelid anatomy, and some brachycephalic or loose-skinned breeds are predisposed to both. While the conditions affect different structures (one involves a displaced tear gland, the other eyelid position), they can occasionally occur in the same eye or the same animal.
Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca (Dry Eye)
Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eye) produces several of the same signs as entropion: persistent redness, squinting, thick mucoid discharge, corneal pigmentation and, in some cases, corneal ulceration. Some breeds, such as the English Bulldog and Bloodhound, are predisposed to both. Tear production may be measured when entropion is assessed, because a cornea with fewer tears has less lubrication against a lid that rolls inward.
Excessive tearing, squinting, or visible hair touching the eye surface are the signs that lead to eyelid position being examined. An eye held closed and a cloudy patch on the cornea are recognised signs of corneal ulceration, and neither the presence nor the depth of an ulcer can be judged at home. In breeds predisposed to entropion, awareness that this is a common conformational issue can prompt earlier recognition. Whether the signs worsen in certain conditions, and whether the character of any discharge changes, is useful information for the examination.
Last reviewed: 9 October 2026 · Dr Alastair Greenway MRCVS