Will the inverted eyelashes grow back after being plucked?

Written by Li Zhen Dong
Ophthalmology
Updated on September 21, 2024
00:00
00:00

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.)

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zheng Xin
Ophthalmology
38sec home-news-image

Permanent treatment for trichiasis

Trichiasis refers to the condition where eyelashes grow inward towards the eyeball, and generally, there are two types. One type is caused by the inward turning of the eyelid, known as entropion. The treatment for this type of trichiasis involves correcting the entropion, which can be achieved through corrective surgery for entropion, thereby treating the trichiasis. The other type is simply the inward growth of the eyelashes themselves. This type of trichiasis can be treated with electrolysis, where an electric needle is used to destroy the hair follicles. Once the follicles are destroyed, the eyelashes will no longer regrow, effectively curing the condition.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Fang
Ophthalmology
1min home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Tao Yuan
Ophthalmology
1min home-news-image

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.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Tao Yuan
Ophthalmology
47sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Zhen Dong
Ophthalmology
53sec home-news-image

Does removing inverted eyelashes have any impact on the eyes?

After removing the misdirected eyelashes, it generally does not significantly affect the eyes. However, if they regrow after being plucked, they tend to be harder than before. Repeated plucking can cause inflammation of the eyelid and conjunctiva, long-term abrasion of the cornea, and may lead to the formation of new blood vessels in the cornea. Sometimes, it can also lead to corneal vascularization. Therefore, plucking is not advised. If there are only a few eyelashes, electrolysis can be performed; if there are many, surgical correction is possible, and generally, the results of the surgery are quite good. In such cases, it is advisable to use anti-inflammatory eye drops and eye drops that protect the corneal epithelium, such as levofloxacin and sodium hyaluronate eye drops. (Please consult a doctor before using any medication.)