Can people with trichiasis wear contact lenses?

Written by Li Zhen Dong
Ophthalmology
Updated on September 22, 2024
00:00
00:00

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.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zheng Xin
Ophthalmology
33sec home-news-image

Does trichiasis require a fundus examination?

Trichiasis refers to a condition where the eyelashes grow inward toward the eyeball, a sign related to the eye. Common symptoms include a foreign body sensation in the eye, photophobia, tearing, and even eye pain. Generally, an ophthalmologist can confirm the diagnosis with an examination under a slit lamp microscope. Therefore, it is not necessary to perform a fundus examination for trichiasis; a diagnosis can be clearly established just by using a slit lamp microscope examination.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Zhen Dong
Ophthalmology
37sec home-news-image

Can trichiasis be noticeable?

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.

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 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.)