How to Treat an Ingrown Eyelash

An ingrown eyelash, also known as trichiasis, is a potentially dangerous but very treatable condition where a lash or lashes are located on the eyelid in such a way that they come into contact with the surface of the eye. Left untreated or in chronic cases the resulting irritation can cause permanent damage to the eye. There is no home treatment for trichiasis. If you feel you are suffering from this condition see a doctor, preferably an ophthalmologist (eye doctor), right away. Below are some causes of ingrown eyelashes as well as treatment options available through your doctor.

Instructions

Treatments of Trichiasis

• 1

  Remove the hair with forceps to relieve the problem. While simple in nature, this is a procedure that should not be attempted at home. Any misstep could cause further damage to the eye and even blindness.

• 2

  Use laser removal of the hair or hairs for a chronic condition. The Society for Clinical and Medical Hair Removal provides a background of electrolysis as it is commonly used for unwanted body hair. Interestingly enough, the treatment of ingrown eyelashes with lasers actually predates and led to the more common aesthetic treatments.

• 3

  Freeze the hair follicles with careful application of cryogenic gas, which is a gas kept in liquid state at very low temperatures. Descriptions of early studies of this treatment are well documented by the British Journal of Ophthalmology and now high tech equipment to administer this process is available to your doctor.