Normal eyelashes grow forward and outward from the eyelid margin and serve to protect the eye. If the direction and position of the eyelashes change, it is called abnormal eyelash growth. There are three common types of eyelash abnormalities: 1) double-row eyelashes: the eyelashes grow out of the opening of the lid gland, and many dogs, especially poodles and cocker spaniels, can see small double-row eyelashes. The eyelashes may be white or other colors and can only be detected by looking carefully. Occasionally, they can be found under a magnifying glass or slit lamp.3. Ingrown eyelashes: Eyelashes or adjacent skin hairs that grow in a normal position but end up growing in the direction of the cornea may be congenital, but can also be secondary to other conditions such as nasal folds, eyelid developmental defects, eyelid loss and eyelid entropion. Eyelash abnormalities can be bilateral or unilateral and can affect both the upper and lower eyelids, but ectopic eyelashes are more likely to occur in the upper eyelid and although the problem is not congenital, most animals develop the problem at a young age and rarely do they develop the problem until adulthood. Eyelash problems are very common in dogs, and this can be breed inherited and familially inherited. Manifestations 1. Tear overflow: excessive tears, facial tear marks despite a clear tear duct, and rarely purulent ocular discharge unless suffering from corneal ulceration 2. Chronic conjunctival congestion: the surface of the eye is vascularized and visibly red 3. Corneal ulceration: abnormal eyelashes, especially ectopic ones, may lead to corneal ulceration. The ulcers are usually superficial and the location coincides with the location of the ectopic eyelashes. Treatment 1, double row eyelashes: electrolysis is recommended for small amounts and freezing is recommended for large amounts. Without using freezing or electrolysis in conjunction, pulling out the eyelashes with tweezers alone will work well for a while, but new eyelashes will grow back in 3-4 weeks. Freezing method: Use a lid gland clamp to fix the area of abnormal eyelashes, freeze the opening of the lid gland with liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide, making sure that the freezing ball is located just at the hair follicle at the lid margin, and perform two consecutive quick freezes and slow thaws. Once thawed, the eyelashes within the lash capsule are easily plucked out. The eyelids may be swollen after the procedure because the lid glands are also stimulated by the cold during the freezing process, but the advantage is that the damage surface is minimal with this method. After 4 weeks, the function of the lid glands can be restored and no new eyelashes will grow in the frozen area, while new eyelashes will grow in the unfrozen area. Local swelling after surgery can be controlled with topical and systemic glucocorticoids or non-steroidal medications, and the use of non-steroidal medications after surgery also has an analgesic effect. Antimicrobial-hormonal eye ointment also controls the swelling of the conjunctiva. Depigmentation of the eyelids may occur, but will return in most cases after 6 months. It is best not to observe the freezing with the naked eye when freezing. It is better to calculate the time directly with a timer for better results and to spread the local tissues when freezing to avoid damage to adjacent tissues. 2. Treatment of ectopic eyelashes Ectopic eyelashes are treated by removing the abnormal eyelashes along with the lid gland, fixing the area of ectopic eyelashes with a mydriatic clip and preventing bleeding, while folding the eyelid over and using a 65 blade to fix the The eyelash capsule and the lid gland are cut together with a No. 65 blade, but the eyelid margin is kept intact, no sutures are needed, and local pressure for a few minutes will stop the bleeding. Depending on the location of the ingrown eyelashes, any of the following methods can be used: 1. Regular clipping of the hair around the eye, which is often overlooked by inexperienced animal owners, especially for Shih Tzus, Poodles and Lhasa Apsos. 2. Freezing of the ingrown eyelashes. This method is very effective when there is a large amount of abnormal eyelash growth towards the inner canthus. Be sure to warn the animal owner prior to surgery that localized eyelid depigmentation will occur for about 6 months after surgery.3. , Surgery to correct areas where ingrown eyelashes occur (e.g., inward turning eyelids, protruding nasal folds, missing eyelids). Watch for scratching of the eye and restlessness in cats; careful inspection may reveal abnormal eyelash growth.
