Can trichiasis be treated without surgery?

Written by Wang Fang
Ophthalmology
Updated on September 09, 2024
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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.

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Written by Li Zhen Dong
Ophthalmology
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Does trichiasis need to be corrected?

Trichiasis must be treated because it can cause damage to the conjunctiva and cornea. Damage to the cornea can lead to unnecessary corneal inflammation, thinning of the cornea, spotty opacity, scarring, and neovascularization, seriously affecting vision. Therefore, proactive treatment is essential. If there are only a few lashes involved in trichiasis, electrolysis can be used for treatment. If there are many lashes involved, surgical treatment is necessary. During this period, anti-inflammatory eye drops should be used, such as levofloxacin eye drops and erythromycin eye ointment, along with eye drops that protect the corneal epithelium, such as sodium hyaluronate and calf blood deproteinized extract drops. With these treatments, complete recovery is possible. (Please use medication under the guidance of a doctor)

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Written by Li Zhen Dong
Ophthalmology
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Do a few inverted eyelashes need surgery?

If there are only a few inverted eyelashes, electrolysis of the eyelashes can be conducted. If there are many, surgical correction can be considered. The technology for surgical correction is currently quite mature, so there are generally not many problems. Inverted eyelashes must be treated. If left untreated, they can cause damage to the cornea. Damage to the cornea can lead to the growth of new blood vessels, resulting in a thin haze over the cornea, spots, and white patches, severely affecting vision. Although inverted eyelashes might seem like a minor issue, if not treated promptly, they can lead to serious complications. However, complete recovery is possible with treatment. It’s important to rest regularly, reduce close-up tasks, and use some corneal protective eye drops, such as sodium hyaluronate eye drops, and anti-inflammatory eye drops, such as levofloxacin eye drops. (Please use medication under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Tao Yuan
Ophthalmology
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Will there be scars after entropion surgery?

After the surgery for trichiasis, scars may remain in the eyelid area. However, because the skin on the eyelids has a strong healing ability, the scars usually are not conspicuous. Trichiasis is usually caused by a spasm in the orbicularis oculi muscle inside the eyelid, leading to entropion. Eyelashes poking toward the corneal tissue scratch the corneal epithelium with each blink, causing redness, eye pain, foreign body sensation, photophobia, and tearing. If not treated promptly, it can easily lead to keratitis and may form scars within the corneal tissue, reducing corneal transparency and thus affecting the patient’s vision. Treatment typically requires surgery to remove excess loose skin on the eyelids and to eliminate part of the spasmodic orbicularis oculi muscle, returning the eyelid to its normal position and alleviating the symptoms.

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Written by Wang Fang
Ophthalmology
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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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Written by Li Zhuo
Ophthalmology
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Can people with trichiasis exercise?

Do you mean that it involves usual activities such as running or other sports? Trichiasis primarily results from the poor positioning of eyelashes, which touch the cornea, mainly damaging the corneal epithelium. Treatment can be based on the extent of trichiasis. If there are many inverted eyelashes, a correction surgery for trichiasis can be performed. If there are fewer, plucking them is possible, and corneal nutrients can be administered, such as Hailu eye drops and the antibiotic eye drops ofloxacin. It does not affect normal activities and sports in general. I am not sure if this answers your question; this is a general description of the condition of trichiasis.