What this means
The eyelid edge is best looked at in daylight, gently holding your dog's head still. Note whether the edge is smooth and turned outwards, whether it carries fine hairs or lashes that the other eye does not, and whether the lid looks rolled inwards so that hair touches the surface of the eye. The third eyelid is the membrane in the corner of the eye nearer the nose, and sometimes its edge looks thickened, raised or a different colour.
Such changes are often linked to the structure of the eyelids. Sometimes they are inherited and visible from a young age, sometimes they appear later because of changes in the eye or lids, and sometimes a change in the lid edge is a sign of another inflammation of the eye. When the lid or its hairs rub on the surface of the eye, they can irritate it and damage the clear surface, so the change is worth showing to a vet even if your dog does not seem bothered.
Eye problems can quickly harm sight. If the eye is very sore, your dog keeps it shut, it is very red or a cloudy patch has appeared, go the same day. Put nothing in the eye and do not try to pull out hairs yourself. Your vet will find it useful to know when you noticed the change, whether the eye waters, whether your dog rubs it and whether both eyes are affected.
Possible causes
These are things that can cause this sign. It is not a diagnosis, and they are not equally likely for your dog.
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Extra lashes on the lid edge
When extra hairs grow from the lid edge they can rub on the surface of the eye. Soft ones may cause no bother, while stiffer ones irritate the eye.
About the condition: Distichiasis -
An eyelid edge rolled inwards
When the lid edge turns inwards, lashes and hair rub on the surface of the eye. The dog may squint, and the eye waters or looks red.
About the condition: Entropion -
Immune-related inflammation of the cornea
This can change the edge of the third eyelid, which becomes thickened. The changes are often seen in both eyes.
About the condition: Pannus (chronic superficial keratitis) -
Inflammation of the eye or eyelids
When the eye or lids are inflamed, the lid edge can swell, redden or change. An examination finds the exact cause.
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An injury or scarring
After an injury or long inflammation the lid edge can change and no longer sit against the eye as before.
What else to watch for
These observations help your vet build the picture faster. Note down what you saw and when.
- Whether the lid edge looks rolled inwards or thickened
- Whether you can see a fine row of hairs along the lid edge
- Whether the eye is watering, red or has discharge
- Whether your dog squints, rubs the eye with a paw or avoids light
- Whether the change is in one eye or both
- Whether a cloudy or white patch has appeared on the eye
When to book a routine visit
A changed eyelid edge is worth showing to a vet, because it touches the surface of the eye and can irritate it. If the eye is very sore or your dog keeps it shut, go the same day.
Related conditions
Conditions whose entries mention this sign. The list is somewhere to read on, not a way to reach a diagnosis.
- Distichiasis Eyes Distichiasis is a condition in which extra eyelashes grow from the edge of the eyelid, where no lashes should be. Soft lashes may barely bother the eye, but stiffer ones rub against its surface. Constant rubbing irritates the eye and can damage the cornea, so whether the lashes are causing harm is for a vet to judge.
- Entropion Eyes Entropion is a condition in which the edge of the eyelid rolls inwards, so the eyelashes and eyelid hair rub against the surface of the eye. The constant rubbing irritates and hurts the eye and can damage the cornea, leading to ulcers. It can be inherited and show up in young dogs, and it sometimes develops later because of other changes to the eye or eyelids.
- Pannus (chronic superficial keratitis) Eyes This is an immune-related inflammation of the cornea: pinkish tissue that later darkens creeps slowly from the edge across the clear surface of the eye, like a cloud across a window. It develops slowly and may not hurt at all, so it is easy to miss, but over time it can impair vision. Only a vet can diagnose it and follow how it progresses.
Body systems: Eyes