Dystocia and ectopic eyelashes are congenital abnormalities of eyelash growth, in which hair follicles form in atypical places on the eyelids. These conditions can be inherited, and clinical manifestations usually appear before the age of 1.5 years.

What is the difference?

  • Distichia are eyelashes that grow from hair follicles located near the meibomian glands. The follicles open into the ducts of the glands themselves and are located on the eyelid edge.
  • An ectopic eyelash is an eyelash that sprouts from a follicle also located near the meibomian glands, but opens onto the inner (palpebral) surface of the eyelid, i.e. directly towards the cornea.

Both conditions can cause significant discomfort to the animal and damage to the eyeball.

Who is at risk?
The following breeds are most often affected:

  • Cocker spaniels
  • English and French bulldogs
  • Spitzes
  • Shih Tzu

However, they are also found in other breeds.

Due to the structure of the hair follicles, we can often have multiple follicles, which makes it possible for several follicles to open in one mouth, which can alternately give rise to new fur

Symptoms
The first manifestations often occur before the age of 18 months:

  • constant squinting
  • increased lacrimation
  • recurrent corneal ulcers occurring in the same places
  • poor response to standard therapy

In some cases, dystocia may not cause clinical manifestations - in this case, the cilia do not damage the cornea, and the animal lives with them for life. Due to the cyclical nature of hair growth, these eyelashes can sometimes fall out, which makes diagnosis difficult.

Diagnosis

  • It is performed during an ophthalmic examination using biomicroscopy. Often, magnification and good lighting are required for accurate detection.

Treatment.

  • The main method is surgical removal of the affected follicles. The procedure is performed under a microscope with high accuracy.

Prognosis.

  • The prognosis is cautious. Due to the anatomical features of the follicles, in 10% of cases, eyelashes may re-grow, which requires reoperation.

💡 Important: Do not ignore signs of discomfort in the eye area. The earlier eyelash pathology is diagnosed, the lower the risk of developing chronic corneal damage and vision loss.