Trichiasis
Description of the Disease and Clinical Presentation
 
Trichiasis represents a condition where there is contact between normally positioned hairs in the periocular region and the cornea. The hairs that reach the surface of the eye can originate from the eyelids, the medial eye angle, or the nasal fold. This occurrence can be either unilateral or bilateral, as well as congenital or acquired. Cocker Spaniels, Shih Tzus, Pugs, and Miniature Poodles have a breed predisposition for trichiasis. Trichiasis is common among dog breeds with "excess" skin on the head, such as Shar-Peis, Bulldogs, Saint Bernards, and Chow Chows. Some acquired anatomical pathological conditions, such as lacerations of the eyelids or entropion, can subsequently lead to trichiasis.
 
The clinical presentation of trichiasis includes intense tearing (epiphora), spasm of the eyelids, and keratitis with or without the occurrence of ulcers. Just as entropion can lead to trichiasis, trichiasis can also lead to secondary entropion due to the pain and consequent eyelid spasm.
 
Therapy
 
For some patients, regular trimming of periocular hairs is sufficient. Sometimes it is necessary to permanently remove certain hair follicles through cryoepilation. If entropion is the cause of trichiasis, surgical treatment of entropion is recommended. For dog breeds with excessive skin folds on the head, surgical removal of excess skin is performed, or temporary stitches are placed to pull the eyelid skin away from the corneal surface (mainly in puppies and young dogs). If hairs from the nasal fold enter the eye, surgical correction of that region is performed. If the cause of trichiasis is a laceration of the eyelid, corrective eyelid surgery must be performed, with particular attention to proper apposition of the eyelid edges. Consequences of trichiasis, like keratitis and corneal ulcers, must be treated.
 
Please contact our specialty veterinary ophthalmology hospital Animal Eye Consultants
of Iowa (animaleyeiowa@gmail.com) in USA or Oculus Veterinary Specialty Hospital
(oculusklinika@gmail.com) in Serbia, Europe to schedule an appointment so your pet
can be seen.