Trichiasis, or an ingrown eyelash, is a potentially serious condition that causes eyelashes to grow toward your eye rather than outward. According to the Baptist Eye Surgeons, an eye disorder clinic located in Knoxville, Tennessee, chronic inflammation and scarring of the lower eyelid due to infection, disease or trauma is the most common cause of this condition. Failing to the steps necessary to remove the affected eyelashes can result in corneal abrasion, infection, permanent scarring of the cornea and blindness.
Step 1
Reduce swelling and provide temporary pain relief by alternately applying warm and cold compresses such as a moist warm washcloth and then an ice pack to the affected area.
Step 2
Call an eye care professional, called an ophthalmologist, and make an appointment to confirm a diagnosis and discuss possible treatments.
Step 3
Follow the treatment plan prescribed by your ophthalmologist. According to Hypertrichosis.com, your doctor may first suggest using forceps to remove the ingrown eyelash. Because this method removes only the lash and not the lash follicle, it is most often a temporary solution. Other, more permanent solutions include electrolysis, which attempts to kill the cells responsible for producing hair, or laser surgery using an argon laser to destroy the hair follicle.
Step 4
Ask your ophthalmologist to prescribe a one-time dose of an oral antibiotic called azithromycin rather than prescribing a standard six-week regimen of a tetracycline ointment to prevent recurrence. According to the National Institutes of Health--National Eye Institute, taking azithromycin can reduce your chances of a recurrence by 1/3 as compared to applying the tetracycline ointment.
Things You'll Need
- Washcloth
- Ice pack
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