| Distichia | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Distichiae of the upper and lower lid of a dog | |
| Specialty | Ophthalmology |
Adistichia is aneyelash that arises from an abnormal part of theeyelid. This abnormality, attributed to agenetic mutation, is known to affect dogs and humans. Distichiae usually exit from the duct of themeibomian gland at the eyelid margin. They are usually multiple, and sometimes more than one arises from a duct. They can affect either the upper or lower eyelid and are usually bilateral. The lower eyelids of dogs usually have no eyelashes.[1]
Distichiae usually cause no symptoms, because the lashes are soft, but they can irritate the eye and cause tearing, squinting, inflammation,corneal ulcers and scarring.[2] Treatment options include manual removal,electrolysis,electrocautery,CO2 laser ablation,[3]cryotherapy, andsurgery.
Inveterinary medicine, some canine breeds are affected by distichiasis more frequently than others:
An ectopic cilia is a special type of distichia usually found in younger dogs. Commonly affected breeds include Poodles,Golden Retrievers, andShih Tzus.[5] The eyelash exits through theconjunctiva of the eyelid facing toward the eye, usually at the middle of the upper eyelid. It can cause intense pain andcorneal ulcers. Treatment is surgery or cryotherapy.