Can trichiasis be noticeable?

Written by Li Zhen Dong
Ophthalmology
Updated on September 28, 2024
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Trichiasis can be clearly seen with the naked eye; it causes friction on the conjunctiva, either on the sclera or the cornea, leading to damage to the corneal epithelium. This can result in keratitis, corneal neovascularization, and if not treated promptly, it can lead to further pathological changes in the cornea such as thinning, leukoma, and speckled opacities, severely impacting vision. Simple cases of minimal trichiasis can be treated with electrolysis, but more severe cases should be surgically treated. Complete recovery is possible after surgical treatment for trichiasis.

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Written by Tao Yuan
Ophthalmology
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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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Written by Tao Yuan
Ophthalmology
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How should I deal with just one inverted eyelash?

Having just one ingrown eyelash is a relatively mild symptom of trichiasis, but it can irritate the corneal epithelium, causing a sensation of a foreign body in the eye. For treatment, tweezers can be used to pluck the ingrown eyelash. Simply plucking the ingrown lash does not destroy the follicle that produces the ingrown eyelash, so recurrence is common. If the ingrown lashes recur frequently, electrolysis treatment can be considered. This involves inserting a specially designed probe into the follicle producing the ingrown lash and applying electricity to destroy the follicle, which helps prevent recurrence. However, electrolysis treatment for ingrown eyelashes can cause significant eye pain during the procedure. It is not recommended for elderly patients with underlying heart conditions.

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Written by Zheng Xin
Ophthalmology
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Will surgery for inverted eyelashes leave scars?

The types of trichiasis can be divided into two categories. One type is simple trichiasis, where the eyelashes grow inward. Its treatment can be through electrolysis, which involves using an electric needle to destroy the hair follicle before plucking it out, preventing future eyelash growth from that follicle. The other type is caused by entropion of the eyelid, which requires corrective surgery for the inward-turning eyelid, involving an incision in the skin. Therefore, treatment of this type of trichiasis will result in scars on the skin.

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Written by Li Zhen Dong
Ophthalmology
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Can inverted eyelashes be fixed with an eyelash curler?

In general, it is not advisable to pluck inverted eyelashes with tweezers, as the more you pluck, the thicker the inverted eyelashes become, making them more likely to injure the cornea and conjunctiva. This means the eyelashes become harder, creating a vicious cycle. If you have inverted eyelashes, it’s important to actively treat the condition: if there are few eyelashes, electrolysis can be done; if there are many, corrective surgery for inverted eyelashes is recommended and generally effective. During the period of dealing with inverted eyelashes, you should use anti-inflammatory eye drops and eye drops that protect the corneal epithelium, such as Levofloxacin eye drops and Sodium Hyaluronate eye drops. It's important to rest, avoid rubbing your eyes with dirty hands, maintain a light diet, avoid spicy and irritating foods, and monitor your vision.

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Written by Li Zhuo
Ophthalmology
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How to deal with inverted eyelashes

For trichiasis, it first depends on the nature of the ingrown eyelashes. If there are only a few, such as one or two, it is recommended to pluck them out. For some people, once these are plucked, the new eyelashes may grow back in the correct position, so no further treatment is necessary. If the ingrown eyelashes recur repeatedly as individual lashes, electrolysis of the hair follicle can be performed to destroy the follicle, preventing the eyelashes from growing back. However, because this is a destructive procedure, many hospitals have discontinued it, though some still offer this treatment. If there are many ingrown eyelashes, appearing in rows, the treatment depends on the position of the eyelid. Eyelash correction surgery may be necessary. Depending on the specific situation, excision of the tarsal plate to correct the trichiasis can be considered as well.