Trichiasis

Trichiasis ( ancient Greek τριχίασις from τριχίας trichias ' hairy ' to θρίξ thrix 'hair') is already Galen 's medical term for rubbing eyelashes , the rubbing of eyelashes on the cornea or the conjunctiva of the eye. The cause can be a misaligned growth of individual eyelashes or an entire row of eyelashes, as in distichiasis , but also an inward turning of the eyelid . The increased squinting of the eye as a reaction to the stimulus can further intensify the inward turning in the sense of a vicious circle .

Symptoms include a foreign body sensation, redness, itching and stinging, and inflammation of the conjunctiva. However, if the disease is chronic, it can also lead to ulcers of the cornea with subsequent scarring and loss of visual acuity.

Treatment depends on the cause and severity. The eyelashes can initially be removed by carefully plucking them, and in the case of repeated trichiasis also by electroepilation with sclerosing of the hair follicles. An outward turning of the eyelid is achieved, depending on the extent, by paving, rein seam (so-called Schöpfer seam) or plastic remodeling of the eyelid.

literature

• M. Sachsenweger: Ophthalmology . Duale series, Georg Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart (2nd edition 2003), 22nd ISBN 3-13-128312-2 .