Cilium incarnatum internum

Abstract

A 53-year-old man presented at Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center with irritation of the left eye of 2 weeks’ duration. He had a history of dry eye for the previous 8 years and had been using artificial tears. Eversion of the upper eyelid revealed a fine eyelash lying on the margin of eyelid, with the tip toward the eye. The hair follicle was located on the anterior lip of the eyelid margin, but the eyelash was limited by the epidermis and grew beneath it, leading to an inward growth. Trichiasis, where the eyelashes grow toward the eye rather than away from it, is mainly caused by infection, inflammation, congenital defects, or trauma, and leads to irritation, photophobia, and tearing. This tiny eyelash can easily be overlooked, leading to long-term irritation and unnecessary regimen of lubrication. When a patient complains of recurring eye foreign body sensation, everted eyelid examination is essential. In this patient, the trichiatic lash was removed, and irritation was immediately relieved.