What should I do if trachoma causes entropion and trichiasis?

Written by Tao Yuan
Ophthalmology
Updated on September 12, 2024
00:00
00:00

Trachoma is a common ophthalmic disease caused by Chlamydia infection of the conjunctival tissue of the eye, resulting in inflammation. Trachoma can lead to substantial scarring of the conjunctiva. As scar tissue contracts, it can cause the eyelids to curl towards the eyeball, leading to entropion and trichiasis. Initially, it is necessary to use antibiotic eye drops to eliminate the Chlamydia infection and prevent the condition from worsening. Commonly used treatments include Levofloxacin eye drops, Rifampicin eye drops, and Sulfacetamide Sodium eye drops. Once the infection is completely eliminated, surgical correction of the entropion can be performed to alleviate the irritation caused by trichiasis to the patient's eyeball. (Please use medication under the guidance of a doctor.)

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Fang
Ophthalmology
53sec home-news-image

Will trichiasis cause the eyes to tear?

Trichiasis can cause the eyes to tear. Patients with trichiasis exhibit significant tearing symptoms because the cornea is rich in nerve endings and is very sensitive to foreign stimuli. In trichiasis, the eyelashes poke and irritate the cornea, thus stimulating the nerve endings and causing reflex tearing. Therefore, patients with trichiasis should be treated promptly to avoid irreversible damage to the cornea, such as scars or corneal ulcers. For minor trichiasis, local electrolysis can be used to destroy the hair follicles so they no longer grow; for more severe cases, it is recommended to visit a hospital for surgical correction of the trichiasis.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Zhen Dong
Ophthalmology
47sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Tao Yuan
Ophthalmology
1min 4sec home-news-image

Why did a trichiasis suddenly grow?

A sudden formation of an ingrown eyelash is usually due to chronic inflammation in the eyelid margin area, which causes abnormalities in the eyelash follicles. Consequently, the direction of the eyelash growth no longer points straight forward but instead grows toward the eyeball. As the eyeball moves and blinks, the eyelash rubs against the corneal epithelium, causing noticeable symptoms such as a foreign body sensation, stabbing pain, congestion, redness, photophobia, tearing, and a decline in vision. One can visit the ophthalmology department of a hospital for a face-to-face examination and confirmation of the condition. Removing the ingrown eyelash can alleviate the symptoms, but recurrence is possible. If it recurs repeatedly, electrolysis treatment for ingrown eyelashes can be considered. This involves inserting a specially designed probe deep into the follicle of the ingrown eyelash and then passing an electric current through it. The electric current will destroy the follicle of the ingrown eyelash, making it less likely to recur.

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.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Zhen Dong
Ophthalmology
58sec home-news-image

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.)