Misdirected Eyelashes: Causes and Treatment

Misdirected eyelashes, a condition known as trichiasis, refers to misdirected or abnormally positioned eyelashes. If you have misdirected lashes, the chances are they grow towards your eyes instead of outwards. For many, the result is painful as the lashes rub against your cornea and the inner surface of your eyelids, irritating your eyes.

Causes of Misdirected Eyelashes

There are a few ways misdirected eyelashes occur, including the following:

• Infection
• Eyelid swelling
• Eye trauma
• Autoimmune conditions

In addition, there are a few risk factors that may increase your chances of developing this uncomfortable condition, including:

• Epiblepharon: This is a rare birth defect where the loose skin around your eyes folds over, causing your lashes to grow vertically.
• Chronic blepharitis: This is a common condition that causes your eyelids to swell. When this happens, it becomes easier for bacteria to collect near the base of your lashes, leaving the area vulnerable to infection and irritation.
• Herpes zoster eye disease
• Trachoma: This condition results in severe infection of the eye.
• Rare disorders of your mucous membranes and skin

Symptoms of Misdirected Eyelashes

If you have misdirected eyelashes, you might experience one or more of the following symptoms:

• Eye irritation
• Feeling of foreign debris in your eye(s)
• Eye redness
• Watering eyes
• Eye discharge
• Pain in your eyes
• Sensitivity to light

Complications of Misdirected Eyelashes

In addition to these symptoms, misdirected eyelashes may also result in the following complications:

• Corneal abrasion
• Loss of vision
• Corneal ulceration

Diagnosis of Misdirected Eyelashes

If you’re experiencing symptoms of trichiasis, contact your health care provider for a proper diagnosis. During your appointment, your doctor will run through your medical history and perform a clinical exam to check for common eye conditions potentially responsible for your misdirected eyelashes. Some of these conditions include:

• Eye infections, such as herpes zoster or trachoma
• Eyelid trauma
• Chronic blepharitis

While examining your eyes, your doctor will use magnifying glasses and may invert your upper lashes to check for signs of blepharitis and what direction your lashes are growing.

Treatment of Misdirected Eyelashes

If you’re diagnosed with trichiasis, your doctor will discuss potential treatment options that may include the following:

• Epilation: During this procedure, your doctor will pull your lashes with tweezers.
• Electrolysis: This procedure involves using electric currents to remove eyelash follicles.
• Laser Thermoablation: In this procedure, your doctor may use lasers to destroy your eyelash follicles.
• Radiofrequency Ablation: This procedure involves the use of radio frequencies to remove misdirected lashes and their follicles.
• Cryosurgery: During this procedure, your doctor uses liquid nitrogen to remove lash follicles by freezing them.
• Surgery: In some cases, your doctor may recommend surgery to reposition your eyelashes.

Prognosis of Misdirected Eyelashes

Unfortunately, there are no known ways to prevent trichiasis. However, there are treatment options available to help protect your eyes’ health by removing or repositioning your lashes. Once treated, many patients experience an improved quality of overall health.