Can people with trichiasis wear contact lenses?

Written by Li Zhen Dong
Ophthalmology
Updated on September 22, 2024
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Patients with trichiasis often experience inflammation of the conjunctiva and the cornea, therefore, they cannot wear contact lenses. Once trichiasis occurs, it should be actively treated, especially targeting the trichiasis itself. If it is just a few eyelashes that are inverted, electrolysis of the eyelashes can be performed. If there are many eyelashes inverted, then surgical treatment should be considered. Once the condition stabilizes, contact lenses can be worn. However, since trichiasis affects corneal lesions, a corneal bandage lens can be worn to protect the cornea. Active treatment with eye drops and eye ointments is recommended, and hot compresses should be avoided.

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Entropion usually falls under the ophthalmology department.

Trichiasis should be treated by an ophthalmologist. Trichiasis is an eye condition caused by the tension factors of the eyelid's soft tissue, leading to the eyelashes attaching to or poking the surface of the eyeball, causing discomfort in the eyes. Depending on the severity of the condition, the following treatments can generally be chosen: First, if it is just a few lashes, electrolysis can be performed on these eyelashes. Electrolysis can destroy the few lashes stimulating the eyeball, preventing their regrowth and thereby relieving trichiasis. Second, if there are a larger number of lashes involved, trichiasis correction surgery should be chosen, which is a surgical treatment. After the surgery, the eyelashes can be made to turn outward, no longer irritating the eyeball.

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Will the inverted eyelashes grow back after being plucked?

Trichiasis, if plucked, can still regrow, and the new eyelashes may be harder than before, posing a more severe irritation to the conjunctiva and cornea of the eye, so plucking is not recommended. If there are few lashes, electrolysis of the eyelashes can be performed; if there are many, surgery can correct the trichiasis. Once trichiasis occurs, local anti-inflammatory eye drops should be used, such as levofloxacin eye drops, gatifloxacin eye drops, and eye ointment. Use tobramycin eye ointment and erythromycin eye ointment; do not apply heat, take rest, eat a light diet, reduce close work, have regular check-ups, and monitor your vision. (Please use medications under the guidance of a physician.)

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If trichiasis is not treated for a long time, what are the consequences?

If trichiasis is not actively treated, or is left untreated for a long period of time, it can lead to inflammation of the conjunctiva. If the cornea becomes inflamed, it can severely affect vision. The occurrence of keratitis can lead to the formation of corneal ulcers and corneal perforation, which can result in blindness. Furthermore, even if the keratitis heals, it can cause varying degrees of corneal opacities such as nebula, macula, and leucoma, which also severely affect vision. Another issue is the growth of new blood vessels on the cornea, which decreases corneal transparency and affects vision. Thus, although trichiasis may seem a minor issue, the consequences of not treating it actively can be very severe.

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What should be noted for trichiasis?

Patients with trichiasis should note the following: First, when trichiasis damages the corneal epithelium, causing noticeable symptoms of eye pain, foreign body sensation, photophobia, and tearing, medication that promotes the repair of the corneal epithelium is needed, such as recombinant human epidermal growth factor eye drops, recombinant bovine basic fibroblast growth factor eye drops, etc. Second, once trichiasis leads to conjunctivitis, keratitis, and other infectious eye diseases, it is necessary to promptly use antibiotic eye drops for treatment, such as tobramycin eye drops, ofloxacin eye drops, etc. Third, a small amount of trichiasis can be plucked or treated with electrolysis, but for numerous trichiasis caused by entropion, surgical correction of the entropion is required for cure. (Please follow medical advice when using medications.)

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Can trichiasis be treated without surgery?

Whether surgery is needed for inverted eyelashes depends on the specific situation. If it is just one or a few eyelashes irritating the eyeball and the symptoms are not significant, you can choose the local electrolysis method to destroy the hair follicles of these eyelashes, preventing their regrowth. This will not affect the appearance and can fundamentally solve the problem. However, if there are a large number of inverted eyelashes causing significant irritation to the eyeball, surgery is recommended for correction. Without surgery, long-term irritation from the eyelashes could cause irreversible damage to the eye, such as scarring or ulcers on the cornea, which could eventually affect vision. Some patients might intermittently pull out the eyelashes, but this is not advisable, as the eyelashes will grow back.