Trichiasis: When Eyelashes Grow Toward the Eye
Treatment
There are many ways to treat trichiasis.
Your doctor may use little forceps to pluck out the pesky lashes. This is the most common way to treat it. They will numb your eyeball with drops and pull the lash out of its follicle. It usually comes out easily and doesn’t hurt.
You may need artificial teardrops for a couple of days. Your lashes will grow back in 3 to 5 months, but there’s still a chance they’ll come in the wrong way.
Children often outgrow trichiasis. If your child has a scratch on their eye, the doctor may prescribe antibiotic drops and may also suggest an artificial tear ointment to protect it.
To clear up wrong-way eyelashes for good, your doctor may suggest surgery.
Options include:
Ablation. This normally takes place in an office or clinic. Your doctor numbs your eye and then uses lasers to remove lashes and hair follicles.
Electrolysis. Your doctor removes the lashes with electricity.
Cryosurgery. The doctor removes the lashes and follicles by freezing them.
Talk to your eye doctor about the best treatment for you
