Does trichiasis need to be corrected?

Written by Li Zhen Dong

Ophthalmology

Updated on September 15, 2024

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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

38sec

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Can opening the eye corner cure trichiasis?

Trichiasis, if caused by epicanthus, can be corrected by canthoplasty. If it is not caused by epicanthus but by entropion of the eyelid, canthoplasty will not be effective. For trichiasis with few lashes involved, electrolysis can be used for treatment. If there are many lashes involved in trichiasis, entropion surgery can be performed. The surgery is minor and complete recovery is possible; usually, dressings are changed after surgery and recovery can be expected within about a week. If trichiasis severely wears down the cornea, active treatment should be sought to protect vision and the cornea.

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Written by Tao Yuan

Ophthalmology

48sec

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Besides surgery, how can trichiasis be treated?

Patients with trichiasis can undergo electrolysis treatment for trichiasis in addition to surgical treatment to eliminate symptoms. This involves using a specially designed electric probe that enters the follicles of the misdirected eyelashes, and through the action of electric current, destroys the follicle, thereby preventing the formation of trichiasis. However, electrolysis treatment for trichiasis is only suitable for patients with a small number of misdirected eyelashes, as treating a large number of them can lead to the growth of scar tissue on the eyelid margin, causing complications such as entropion or ectropion. Patients with extensive trichiasis generally need to undergo surgery for correction and treatment.

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Written by Li Zhen Dong

Ophthalmology

47sec

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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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Written by Tao Yuan

Ophthalmology

47sec

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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 Li Zhen Dong

Ophthalmology

58sec

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Can vision affected by trichiasis be restored?

If trichiasis affects vision, it indicates that the abrasion of the cornea by the eyelashes has reached a certain degree, and active treatment is necessary. The main goal of the treatment is to prevent the future formation of corneal haze, spotted haze, or leukoma, which can severely impact vision. With active treatment, these conditions generally do not develop, so although trichiasis is a minor condition, if not treated actively, it can lead to serious complications. The primary treatments for trichiasis involve the use of eye drops, such as levofloxacin eye drops and sodium hyaluronate eye drops. If the number of misdirected lashes is small, electrolysis of the eyelashes can be performed. If there are many, surgical treatment may be necessary to correct the inward turning of the eyelid. With active treatment, complete recovery is generally possible. (Please use medication under the guidance of a doctor.)