Question
A 6-year-old boy, four days after congenital eyelid surgery, discovers that some of his eyelashes are covering the eyeball. Could this be a case of ingrown eyelashes?
Answer
Ingrown eyelashes often occur due to trachoma-induced conjunctival scarring and contraction, but can also be caused by other factors such as blepharitis, trauma, etc. Ingrown eyelashes may lead to symptoms such as foreign body sensation in the eyes, photophobia, tearing, eyelid twitching, conjunctival congestion, blurred cornea, or corneal ulceration. When the number of ingrown eyelashes is small, eyelash electrolysis can be considered. It is recommended to seek medical attention for appropriate treatment as soon as possible.