[Congenital ectropion: three case reports and literature review]

To report 3 cases of congenital ectropion because of their rarity and confusing classification. Case 1: JPT, 2 days old, male, negro. Left upper eyelid eversion with chemosis was present, passive to mechanic reduction. Compressive occlusion was done with ectropion regression in 48 hours. Case 2: AJL, 6 years old, female, Caucasian, with Down syndrome. The left eye had hyperemia, lagophthalmos and inferior leucoma. She received horizontal shortening (superior and inferior tarsal strip) and skin grafts, and after 2 months the patient did not return. Case 3: GSD, 4 years old, male, Caucasian, with Down syndrome. His signs and treatment were the same as in case 2. According to Picó's classification the first case is classified as grade II due to eyelid eversion during the passage through the birth canal, more frequent in black people. Cases 2 and 3 represent grade III that is due to eyelid skin alteration, and the association with Down syndrome is observed. Treatment for ectropion grade III is always surgical, as it was done in these cases. We do not agree with Picó's classification, the only one found in medline, because there are no articles confirming the existence of grade I (absent tarsus), grade II should be called congenital upper eyelid eversion, grade IV (microphthalmos and orbital cyst) is a disease of the orbit. Grade III refers to true ectropion, because horizontal enlargement of superior and inferior eyelids (megaloblepharon).