What is trichiasis?
Trichiasis is a condition where a person’s eyelashes turn inwards.
The eyelids normally have a single row of eyelashes on the upper and lower lids. The lashes typically point outwards, away from the eye. Sometimes the lid margin can turn inwards causing one or more lashes to scratch the cornea (clear covering of the eye) or the conjunctiva (thin layer of clear tissue that covers the white of the eye).
This will result in eye pain ranging from mild to moderate, redness and excessive tearing. Most patients who suffer from this condition will experience several attacks per year.
What causes trichiasis?
Common causes of trichiasis include:
- Aging is the most common cause of trichiasis, since the skin loses its elasticity with age.
- Scarring due to mechanical trauma, chemical burns, previous eyelid surgery and ocular inflammation can also cause the lid margins to curl towards the eyeball.
- Some children, primarily those of Asian descent, may be born with trichiasis. They will often outgrow the condition. However, artificial tears may be needed on a regular basis to prevent corneal scarring.
What is the treatment for trichiasis?
Epilation
Epilation or plucking the lashes is the most common technique used to provide immediate relief for patients who experience mild trichiasis. This involves your doctor of optometry:
- Making the eyeball numb using anesthetic drops.
- Grasping the particular lash or lashes at its base with fine forceps and pulling the lash out of its follicle. These lashes normally come out very easily with minimal discomfort to the patient.
Artificial teardrops can be used for a couple days after the lashes are removed to provide further relief. New eyelashes will grow back within the involved follicles and will likely point towards the eyeball again. Eyelashes grow to normal length in 3-5 months and the offending lash or lashes may need to be pulled again.
Surgery
Surgery is also used if the trichiasis is severe. This is used to roll the lid margin outwards again.
Laser treatments
Laser treatments can be done directly on the particular eyelash follicles involved to prevent lash regrowth, should a patient require lash removal several times per year.
Is treatment for trichiasis permanent?
Regardless of the technique used to treat trichiasis, providing a permanent treatment is extremely difficult. For patients who suffer from this condition regularly, once you feel the expected symptoms of misdirected eyelashes, don’t delay in consulting your doctor of optometry to minimize your discomfort and prevent scarring.