8th December 2023

Trichiasis

This occurs when individual eyelashes are misdirected posteriorly towards the conjunctiva and cornea. It is usually secondary to scarring from a previous inflammatory process, such as blepharitis or herpes zoster or secondary to trauma, which can be iatrogenic. Patients commonly complain of foreign body sensation, redness and discomfort, and in cases of corneal abrasions, corneal signs such as photophobia.

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons (2023). Trachoma 1, Licensed under a creative commons licence. Available for free at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Trachoma_1.png (Accessed on: 5  May 2022).

First line treatment is usually epilation of trichiatic lashes, and this usually lasts for a few weeks. It is temporary, and the lashes typically grow back, with patients requiring several sessions. Electrolysis of the affected area may be utilised, but this requires a few sessions to achieve a satisfactory result. Laser ablation, cryotherapy and surgical intervention are other applicable therapies.