Distichiae
Hair growing out of the meibomian gland often curves inwards. They are not always the cause of pathology but can cause irritation or ulceration.
Each patient is assessed on a case-by-case basis.
In some instances, the inward growing eyelashes are so fine that they do not cause any clinical signs. For those patients with a greater number or more rigid eyelashes, clinical signs are often more evident and warrant treatment.
Distichia can be treated by removal via electrolysis or by cryotherapy – both of which essentially destroy the follicular base of the eyelids. Cryo can lead to de-pigmentation and so sometimes is not as well received by clients. Electrolysis tends to be effective and targeted but will sometimes take more than one treatment to remove every hair.
The difficulty with both treatment options is maintaining the integrity of the eyelid margin and avoiding damage.
Ectopic Cilium
When cilia decide to grow out of the meibomian gland perpendicular to the conjunctiva they will cause irritation and often ulceration. These can be difficult to find due to the tiny size of the offending hair. They are more often a single cilia than with distichiae and are generally surgically removed.
Trichiasis
This is normal anatomic hair that is brushing on the surface of the cornea. One of the most common is the nasal fold of the Pug, Bulldog or Frenchie and these can be excised either partially or fully. The removal of the nasal fold can also be used to treat stubborn skin fold dermatitis.
