Help! DD/eyelashes

[live4christp1]

My DD who is 5 has a problem that keeps reoccuring. Her eyelashes in the outside corner of her left eye keep getting stuck down in her eye, under the skin. It gets irritated and hurts.

What can I do to keep this from happening? Do I need to take her to the doctor?

Thanks,
Cristy

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I was just at the eye doctor recently and he pulled out lashes that were a problem.

Now you can do that yourself or see the eye doc. For some reason it was easier for him to do it as I was too big of a chicken.

 

[JessicaR]

This may be helpful.
http://yourtotalhealth.ivillage.com/ingrown-eyelashes.html

The medical term for the abnormal,inward growth of eyelashes is trichiasis. This condition can be very bothersome and even threaten vision. When eyelashes are misdirected, they can rub on the clear, outer coat of the eye (the cornea), causing irritation and pain. Chronic rubbing of the cornea can lead to scarring and/or infection.

As you mentioned, the treatment for trichiatic lashes is to have them surgically removed (epilated) by an ophthalmologist. New eyelashes grow back over the course of four to eight weeks. For people with severe trichiasis, the ophthalmologist or oculoplastic surgeon may perform a procedure called cryoablation. This procedure freezes the hair follicles, which stops the eyelashes from regrowing.

 

[live4christp1]

Thanks for the responses. If it was just happening on the rare occasion I wouldn't worry about it being an issue. She has lots of environmental allergies that make her eyes itch and she will rub (not helpful). This is like the 4th time since Christmas morning though and when I get the eyelashes out from the corner skin I still can't get them to turn back upwards like they should. Guess we will make a trip to see the doctor.

 

[live4christp1]

I was just at the eye doctor recently and he pulled out lashes that were a problem.

Now you can do that yourself or see the eye doc. For some reason it was easier for him to do it as I was too big of a chicken.

I don't think I could pull them out......it's a major drama just to get her to be still and keep the eye open enough for me to use a damp Q-tip to brush them up out of the corner of her eye. There is no way I would attempt to remove them, I'd probably need 5 people to hold her down. What is it with little skinny wiry kids, they sure can be awfully strong when they don't want to do something.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Yes if it is a serious issue I would see an opthamologist.

Also it is a catch-22 with the problem. The lashes cause scratching to the eye, which in turn makes them itch and it becomes a vicious cycle.

Have you tried doing drops that are tears? I would do alot of drops to heal the eye. You have to get her not to scratch her eye and the drops might bring some relief.

I have dry eyes so it took awhile to figure out that.

 

[LuvN~Travel]

Our daughter was born with birth defects affecting the face, and after one of her surgeries several years ago, she had a problem with her lower eyelashes growing back into her eyes. Her doctor at the time had to take a stitch or two in the lower lids to pull her lids out from her eye just a tiny fraction.

I don't know how often this would be done in a non surgical person's case, but you may ask her doctor just in case.

FWIW, as I've gotten older I have to keep my lower lashes plucked out because mine started growing back some several years ago. And, it definitely is a pain not only having them grow back, but having to pluck them!
I feel for your girl.

Hope you guys find a solution soon!

Kim

 

[LuvOrlando]

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[SueInBoston]

Wow, I almost forgot that my DD14 had this condition when she was 3 or 4 yrs old. The pediatrician referred us to eye surgeon, and the surgeon stiched 1 or 2 stiches to turn her lid upward and that fixed the problem. It was outpatient at the hospital.