Other causes of ectropion are scarring, burns, trauma (called cicatricial ectropion), spasm of the orbicularis muscle, which may affect either the upper or lower eyelid, or paralysis of the orbicularis muscle in which only the lower eyelid is affected.
It is possible that there is nothing wrong with your water heater. There is a pressure relief valve on top that may be releasing water because your primary water pressure reduction valve for the house is worn out. The fact that the leak is intermittent suggests this.
The source of a hot water heater's leak may also occur at the tank inlet or outlet. Because the tank connections are made of steel and the pipes connected to them are frequently copper, galvanic corrosion can take place, slowly eroding the steel and causing water to seep out of the connections.