- Overview
- Differential Diagnoses & Workup
- Treatment & Medication
- Follow-up
- Multimedia
Treatment
Medical Care
The primary treatment of trichiasis is surgical.
- Lubricants, such as artificial tears and ointments, may decrease the irritant effect of lash rubbing.
- If a more serious disease (eg, ocular cicatricial pemphigoid, Stevens-Johnson syndrome) is the cause of the lash misdirection, medical therapy should be geared toward that disease.
- According to West and colleagues, azithromycin has been shown to reduce severe postsurgical trichiasis recurrence rates to 1 year.3
Surgical Care
Many procedures for the repair of trichiasis have been described. The technique used is dependent on the cause of the problem. These procedures can be categorized as lash/follicle destroying or lash/follicle repositioning.- Lash and follicle destruction surgery is preferred for segmental or focal trichiasis.
- Simple epilation with forceps often leaves the lash follicle and usually is only a temporizing measure. When the lash grows back, it often will be short and stiff, and even more irritating.
- Electrolysis of lashes can be effective, but it often is painful for the patient and tedious for the surgeon.
- Cryosurgery of lashes and follicles can be very effective, but it has many potential complications.
- Radiofrequency ablation of lashes and follicles is extremely effective and can be performed quickly and easily at the slit lamp or with surgical loupes and local anesthesia. The smallest gauge wire (eg, Ellman TA1, A8 bendable 1/16th vari tip) is introduced alongside the lash down to the follicle, with the lowest setting that gives an easy introduction of the wire. The machine should be set on cut/coag. A small "core sample" will be missing from the lid margin and will granulate in with minimal scarring.
Lower lid trichiasis, Ellman radiofrequency follicle ablation.
- Argon laser ablation can be effective, but it can be very tedious for both the patient and the surgeon, as well as expensive.
- According to Moore and colleagues, ruby laser treatment can be a viable and well-tolerated option for the relief of the symptoms of trichiasis.4
- Wedge resection of the lid segment requires a full-thickness resection of the lid margin; in many cases, it may be excessive.
- Lash and follicle repositioning surgery should be directed toward the anatomical cause of the problem.
- Entropion: Lower lid retractor reattachment and lateral tarsal strip can be used to repair most cases of horizontal lid laxity and entropion.
- Posterior lamellar scarring
- The posterior lamellae and fornix can be lengthened with grafts (eg, mucous membrane, hard palate, cadaveric dermis).
- A tarsoconjunctival advancement may lengthen the posterior lamellae.
- Tarsal fracture with full-thickness everting sutures repositions the lashes to point away from the globe.
- Surgery of the conjunctiva may reactivate ocular cicatricial pemphigoid and should be avoided with this disease.
- Repositioning of the anterior lamellae may be the method of choice when dealing with ocular cicatricial pemphigoid because it allows the conjunctiva to remain undisturbed. This technique positions the lashes away from the lid margin and further away from the globe.
Consultations
- In cases of Stevens-Johnson syndrome or ocular cicatricial pemphigoid, a general medical consult may be necessary.
- Cornea/external disease and/or oculoplastic services may be required in severe cases.
More on Trichiasis |
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 Treatment & Medication: Trichiasis |
| Follow-up: Trichiasis |
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| References |
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References
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Further Reading
Keywords
trichiasis, ingrown eyelashes, lash inversion, lid abnormality, eyelid abnormality, eyelash misdirection, lash misdirection, misdirected lashes, misdirected eyelashes
