Ectropion prevention

In patients with severe lid involvement, lubricating ointments should be instilled into the cul-de-sac to prevent complications arising from exposure or trichiasis. An oculoplastic surgeon should manage scarring and contraction of lid tissue that creates cicatricial ectropion, lid retraction, lid margin deformity, or severe corneal complications. 

In a series of 27 cases of caustic exposure over a5-yearperiodfromChandrigarh, India, Sawheny, and Kaushish [210] noted that 16 patients had acid skin exposures (sulfuric or nitric acids) and 11 had base chemical exposures (sodium hydroxide) [210]. Copious water decontamination was done as soon as possible, although there may have been a delay of some hours. Sequelae included severe eyehd ectropion in 44 % of patients, wound infections in 66 % of patients, and invasive sepsis in one patient. Although copious water decontamination was done ... as soon as possible..., it did not prevent clinically significant adverse effects of blindness, wound infections, and other complications in 66 % of patients, and some patients required surgical intervention. In this small case series, water rinsing can be said to have been of limited efficacy [210]. 

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