The turning outward (eversion) of the eyelid is called?

• A. Ectropion
• B. Distal
• C. Dorsal
• D. Coronary

Answer: (A)

Turning the eyelid outward away from the eyeball is called ectropion. This condition describes the eyelid margin everting so it no longer sits against the globe, which can lead to exposure of the palpebral conjunctiva and potential irritation or damage to the cornea. Ectropion most commonly affects the lower lid and can result from aging and laxity of the supporting tissues, facial nerve issues, burns, or scarring. By contrast, terms like distal, dorsal, and coronary do not describe eyelid position relative to the eye—they refer to other directions or regions and aren’t used to name eyelid malpositions. A related concept you may encounter is entropion, where the eyelid margins turn inward toward the eye.