Anatomically, our eyelashes, which are present on both the upper and lower eyelids, follow a concave shape outward. This way, the eyelashes do not touch or come into contact with the sensitive inner tissues of the eye. Trichiasis occurs when eyelashes change direction and turn inward towards the eye due to various diseases.
What symptoms does Trichiasis cause?
Trichiasis can lead to various complaints and symptoms, such as:
- Itching
- Burning sensation
- Pain
- Redness
- Crusting
- Tearing
- Eye infection
- Formation of wounds in the inner eye tissues
What are the causes of Trichiasis?
Trichiasis can be caused by:
- Eyelid infections
- Trauma
- Trachoma
- Certain skin diseases
- Some anatomical eye conditions
- Eyelid surgeries
- Thermal and chemical burns
Is Trichiasis a dangerous disease? Does it harm the eye?
Prolonged contact of eyelashes with the transparent layer of the eye, known as the cornea, initially causes epithelial defects. As the disease progresses, these defects enlarge, leading to ulcers in the cornea, and these ulcers can become infected. Unfortunately, even if eyelash contact is treated at a later stage, healing of the ulcers may leave scars on the cornea, resulting in significant visual impairment.
Can I detect if I have Trichiasis?
Persistent itching, burning, a sensation of a foreign object in the eye, and severe pain are warning symptoms. When the complaints are severe, patients often seek medical attention early. In some cases, patients may even pluck their eyelashes themselves.
Is there a treatment for this disease? What kind of procedures are performed in treatment?
The primary treatment for the disease is the elimination of eyelashes touching the cornea. We use a laser method called electrocoagulation to destroy the follicles of the eyelashes that touch the cornea. In other words, we prevent these eyelashes from regrowing. The laser procedure is performed under local anesthesia and takes approximately 5 minutes.
Is there another treatment option?
Sometimes, not every hospital or city may have this laser device. Until the procedure can be performed at a hospital, we recommend plucking the eyelashes touching the eye with tweezers and advising patients to use eye moisturizing drops or gel.
Can the spots on the cornea caused by Trichiasis be treated?
If the spots are small and not in the line of sight, no action may be necessary. However, sometimes the spots can be large and significantly obstruct vision. In such cases, laser treatment can be performed to remove the spots. When laser treatment is insufficient, a corneal transplant may be required.