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Lamb entropion
Entropion is a rolling of the eyelid towards the inside of the eye. The edge of the eyelid, with its hairs, rubs directly on the cornea, the transparent window of the eye, with each blink. It is the most common ocular abnormality in newborn...
What is it?
Entropion is a rolling of the eyelid towards the inside of the eye. The edge of the eyelid, with its hairs, rubs directly on the cornea, the transparent window of the eye, with each blink.
It is the most common ocular abnormality in newborn lambs. It most often affects the lower eyelid and can affect one or both eyes.
The friction is painful and permanent. The lamb closes its eye, tears, seeks shade, and above all stops following its mother correctly. A lamb that cannot see well suckles less, falls behind, and is outpaced by its littermates.
Commonly observed signs
These signs are neither exhaustive nor specific. Only a veterinarian can establish a diagnosis.
Related signs — each one links to its page:
Closed or half-closed eye, which the lamb keeps closed while the other is open.
Permanent tearing, with a wet streak running down the cheek and sticking to the wool.
Discharge clear at first, then thick and yellowish as infection sets in.
Redness of the white of the eye and swelling of the eyelids.
By gently opening the eyelid, you can see that it is rolled inwards and the hairs are touching the surface of the eye.
Lamb who flees the light and keeps his head down.
After a few days, a whitish or bluish area appears on the surface of the eye: the cornea is damaged.
Lamb who hesitates, bumps into things, no longer follows his mother, stays behind the pack.
Clear growth delay compared to other lambs of the same age, because it suckles less.
In neglected cases, the eye becomes completely opaque and vision is lost.
When to consult without delay
This list does not replace veterinary advice. It gathers situations that justify a prompt consultation.
Causes and risk factors
It is an abnormality of eyelid conformation, present from birth or appearing in the very first days of life.
A hereditary component is recognized: certain lambs, certain lines and certain ewe families present much more than others.
A dehydrated or overly thin lamb has the eye slightly sunken in the socket, which is enough to cause the eyelid to tilt inwards: this is why entropion often accompanies a sickly or malnourished lamb.
Eye irritation, dust, or infection can also cause the eyelids to wrinkle, which triggers rolling.
In any case, once the mechanism is installed, it maintains itself: friction hurts, pain makes the eye squint, and squinting aggravates the rolling.
Family predisposition: ewes or rams whose lambs regularly present the anomaly.
Lambs that are dehydrated, stunted, or have gotten off to a bad start.
Lambs with multiple litters and small weight.
Lack of systematic inspection of the eyes at birth: this is the real aggravating factor, because the anomaly exists from the first day but is only seen when the eye is already white.
Lambings numerous and close together, where the lambs are rarely looked at individually.
Diagnosis and care
Diagnosis is the veterinarian's responsibility, based on clinical examination and laboratory tests. Care is decided case by case.
The examination is simple and should be part of the routine check of each lamb at birth, in the same way as disinfection of the navel: we gently open the eyelid with our thumb and look to see if its edge is rolled inwards.
The veterinarian assesses the importance of the coiling, the condition of the cornea and the existence of an ulcer. He or she may use a dye that makes visible a lesion on the surface of the eye that is invisible to the naked eye.
He checks if the anomaly affects one or both eyes and if other lambs from the same batch are affected, which points to a family origin.
He rules out other causes of closed eyes in lambs: foreign body, grass or straw under the eyelid, injury, eye infection of the flock.
In a very thin or dehydrated lamb, it also treats the general cause, because entropion can correct itself when the lamb recovers.
Treatment
The correction is all the simpler the earlier it is.
In mild forms seen very early, the veterinarian shows how to unroll the eyelid by hand, gently turning it outwards, a gesture to be repeated several times a day. This is sometimes enough to resolve the problem on a lamb that is a few hours old.
When the eyelid rolls back, several techniques allow it to be held in position: application of staples or small special clips, temporary stitches, or injection of a small amount of product under the skin of the eyelid to make it turn outwards. All are the responsibility of the veterinarian, who chooses the appropriate method and equipment.
Local eye treatment, on prescription, accompanies the correction when the cornea is already affected.
Older forms, with deep ulcers or opaque eyes, require prolonged care and often leave a permanent scar on the cornea.
Never try to cut, burn or pinch the eyelid with makeshift equipment: a lamb's eyelid is tiny and an approximate maneuver can result in permanent deformation or loss of the eye.
Do not apply any product intended for another use to a lamb's eye; certain products commonly used in breeding are very aggressive for the cornea.
Treatment depends on the cause and the animal's condition: it must be determined by a veterinarian. No self-medication.
Prevention
Look at both eyes of each lamb at birth, at the same time as disinfecting the navel and checking feeding. This three-second gesture is the most cost-effective measure of the entire sheet.
Review the lambs at two or three days old: some entropions do not appear immediately.
Ensure good colostrum intake and correct growth: a well-fed and well-hydrated lamb presents the problem less often.
Note the ewes and rams whose lambs are regularly affected, and take this into account for renewal: this is the only lasting lever, because the anomaly has a hereditary part.
Have the veterinarian demonstrate the corrective action during a visit, so that you can intervene immediately during subsequent lambings rather than waiting.
Avoid very dusty buildings, which aggravate eye irritation.
Possible complications
Corneal ulcer, which can deepen until the eye is perforated.
Eye infection and abscess.
Permanent white scar on the cornea, with reduced vision for life.
Complete loss of the eye in neglected cases.
Long-term growth retardation, the lamb suckling and grazing less well.
Lamb that gets lost, no longer follows its mother, gets injured or is crushed.
Recurrence after correction, which requires a new visit from the veterinarian.
When to see a veterinarian
A lamb keeps one eye closed or watery: have it seen the same day, do not put it off until the next day.
The eyelid appears rolled inward.
A white or bluish spot appears on the eye.
The discharge becomes thick and yellowish.
The lamb bumps, no longer follows its mother or stays behind the pack.
Both eyes are affected: the lamb is practically blind and will no longer eat properly.
Several lambs from the same flock are affected: talk to the veterinarian, there is probably a family component to manage in the renewal.
Prognosis
Excellent when the correction is made in the first days: the eye recovers completely and the lamb returns normally.
Reserved as soon as an ulcer is established: a scar can persist and hinder vision for life.
Bad in very neglected cases, where the eye is lost.
At the flock level, the frequency drops sustainably when the breeder inspects all the lambs at birth and excludes the most affected lines from reproduction.
Frequently asked questions
Does it correct itself as it grows?
Sometimes in a simply thin or dehydrated lamb, whose eye returns to its place when it recovers. But relying on this is risky: during this time, the eyelid rubs the cornea with each blink. The rule is to show the lamb quickly rather than waiting.
Can I correct the eyelid myself?
The simple unrolling by hand on a lamb a few hours old is a gesture that the veterinarian can teach you during a visit, and which resolves some cases. On the other hand, staples, stitches and injections in the eyelid are the responsibility of the veterinarian: the tissue is tiny and an error leaves a permanent deformation.
Should we eliminate ewes whose lambs have this problem?
There is a recognized hereditary share. Without upsetting everything, it is reasonable to note the ewes and especially the rams whose offspring are regularly affected, and to take them into account at the time of renewal. This is the only way to reduce the frequency over several years.
My lamb's eye has turned white, is this permanent?
Not always: a recent opacity can partially regress once the cause has been removed and the eye treated. But a scar may remain and interfere with vision. This is exactly why you should never wait until the eye turns white to call the vet.
References
FAO — Organisation des Nations unies pour l'alimentation et l'agriculture
Content reviewed by the TunisieVet editorial team · Updated 11 August 2026
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