Extra Eye Lashes

S

sheltiemom4

Forums Enthusiast
I have went through all the threads and didn't see any posts regarding this issue. I can't remember the medical term, but, basically Maggie had an extra row of eyelashes growing inward ever since she was about 4 mos. old. She was was constantly rubbing her eyes, tearing and squinting. I did research on the internet, took her to the vet and she was surprised I diagnosed it and said she had never heard of it. She decided to try laser surgery to kill the hair follicles and after 4 treatments, about a year later, we determined it was not successful and my vet declined on any more treatments due to she didn't want to put her under anymore. She suggested I numb the eyes and pluck the lashes myself. Well, after several months of this, Maggie was now 3yrs old, I decided to try to find another alternative. I was afraid she would go blind due to corneal scarring. I found a Vet Opthamologist and she froze the eyelids and removed all the hair follicles.

My question is this: When breeders state the dogs are eye tested, is this condition what they are referring to and has anyone else had this experience? All 4 of my Shelties are AKC registered, but, they are strictly house pets and I don't show. Just wondering.........
 
Are you referring to Entropion? Althought, I think this is just an inverted eyelid, rather than extra eyelashes.
 
The condition is called Distichiasis. Maia had it in both eyes. She needed special surgery done by an opthalmologist vet.

When I went for a second opinion, to an opthalmologist vet, he said said that cryotherapy, laser or electrotherapy would not really work, that the hairs usually grow back and significant scar tissue may form. What he will do, or another ophthalmologist at the hospital is do the surgery under a microscope and 'cut' the actual eyelash and follicles out, that way they do not grow back.

She had the surgery over a year ago, and not one hair has grown back, and you'd never know she had surgery on her eyes!
 
Last edited:
The term is distichiasis. Different from an entropion which is the inward rolling of the eyelids. The hair just go along for the ride when the eyelid rolls. This is an abnormal row of hair where there shouldn't be hair.

I believe when a dog is CERF(eye checked) they look for this condition. It is just one of many conditons that is looked for. If the parents are clear hopefully the pups are but not always. Good news pups can be CERF'd as young as 7 weeks. I CERF my pups before they went to their new homes pets or not.

I always send my patients to the vet optho for sx for Distichiasis.
 
Both of Maia's parents were CERF. She was fine until she ws around 10 months old or so. That is when they started to grow and bother her.
 
Evie has them. The vet that CERF'd her said the lashes were thin and small and not irritating, so leave them alone.

Both her parents CERF'd clear, as did all the Grandparents.
 
Yes, distichiasis is what the Vet Opthamologist diagnosed. Since her surgery a year ago, she has been fine. There was a possibility she would lose the pigmentation on her eyelids (which she did temporarily) but, now, she just has a few white hairs around her eyelids. I was just surprised my vet had never heard of it!
 
Back in the late 90's I had a rottie/sharpei mix.An awesome & beautiful dog I named Higgins.He came to me from rescue with this very issue.He had so many wrinkles on his face & eyes (sharpei) look.His eye was nearly closed all the time before the surgery from so many wrinkles.

He had a minor surgery,which they simply took a slight tuck in his upper lid to open it more.And it solved his problems of the eyelashes irritating his eye.

But boy was he a mess before surgery,as I am sure it was painful.He recovered well.
 
mbfrench said:
Back in the late 90's I had a rottie/sharpei mix.An awesome & beautiful dog I named Higgins.He came to me from rescue with this very issue.He had so many wrinkles on his face & eyes (sharpei) look.His eye was nearly closed all the time before the surgery from so many wrinkles.

He had a minor surgery,which they simply took a slight tuck in his upper lid to open it more.And it solved his problems of the eyelashes irritating his eye.

But boy was he a mess before surgery,as I am sure it was painful.He recovered well.
Click to expand...

That is an entropion. Different condition. Problem is the same though hair rubbing on the cornea.
 
This is kind of a geeky question, but I've always wondered about it and perhaps Dr. Shelli, or others, can enlighten.

As the root is 'tricho' meaning hair (used a lot in medical nomenclature, as in the ringworm trichophyton and the worms trichuris and trichomonas) shouldn't it be districhiasis ,(abnormal hair, as in dystocia) rather than distichiasis?

But I guess that's.... splitting hairs :razz: - Dr. Mac
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top