Purpose: To describe and analyze the eyelash abnormalities diagnosed at the Hospital of the School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto. Methods: A total of 59 patients who presented during 1999 with eyelash problems at the oculoplastic clinic were studied. Patients with previous treatments were excluded. Data collection included systemic or local disease, symptom duration, eyelid and eye surface abnormalities as well lash morphologic and location characteristics. Results: Trichiasis was the main diagnosed abnormality (94.9% of the cases). Trachoma was the main disease associated with trichiasis. Trachomatous trichiasis differed from nontrachomatous trichiasis according to the number of affected eyelid segments, laterality, affected eyelid (upper or lower) and magnitude of corneal damage. Lash abnormalities regarding color, size and thickness were seen in both trachomatous and nontrachomatous trichiasis. Conclusions: Trachomatous trichiasis continues to be the main lash problem in the Hospital of the School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto. Color and thickness lash abnormalities can not be used as criteria for the distinction between trichiasis and acquired distichiasis.
Eyelash; Trachoma; Eyelid diseases; Eyelid
