Is it a disease to keep losing eyelashes?

My eyes are itchy and dry, and I rub my eyes more often. I have lost several of my eyelashes. Many people think that it is because they stare at their phones every day and do not use their eyes carefully, which leads to dry eyes. If they rub their eyes too hard, it would be strange if their eyelashes did not fall out.

No, no, there may be some mites "hidden" in your long and beautiful eyelashes. So, how many mites are normal in eyelashes? What are the harms of "excessive" mites? How to determine whether the eyelashes are falling out due to mites? Let's reveal the big secrets of these little bugs one by one!

Understanding eye mites

The mites in the eyes are mainly Demodex follicles, which live in our meibomian glands, eyelash follicles and other parts of the face and neck. They mainly parasitize the follicles in the eyelash follicles and exist in groups, which are invisible to the naked eye. If there are less than three mites on every three eyelashes of any of the four eyelids, it is within the normal range and will not have any impact on our lives.

Ye Jianzhang, director of the Cornea and Ocular Surface Department of Dongguan Aier Eye Hospital, introduced: If the Demodex mites are "exceeding the standard", it will manifest as eyelash loss, disorderly eyelashes, redness and itching around the eyes, allergic conjunctivitis, blepharitis, blepharoconjunctivitis, and even corneal inflammation in severe cases.

Who is susceptible to Demodex infection?

People who often wear makeup

If cosmetics are not cleaned properly, especially eye makeup, it is easy for residue to remain on the eyelid margin, creating a "fertile ground" for the growth of Cremella.

People who keep pets

Pets carry a large number of mites, which are highly contagious. They can infect human eyes through contact and cause dry eyes.

Middle-aged and elderly people

The immunity is reduced and there is a lack of resistance to germs and mites.

People who do not pay attention to personal hygiene

If your skin comes into contact with items such as quilts and sheets that are not often washed and dried, mites may take the opportunity to infect your eyes.

Director Ye Jianzhang kindly reminds: Demodex mites live in the eyes, feeding on phagocytes, and their excrement causes blockage of the meibomian gland ducts, causing dry eyes, tearing and other discomfort symptoms. Friends who love to eat sweet and spicy foods should pay attention, as excessive secretion of skin oil also provides rich "food" for mites.

How do you know if you are infected with mites?

If you experience eyelash loss, disorderly eyelashes, redness around the eyes, itching and other discomforts, it is recommended that you go to a regular ophthalmology hospital for a registration examination, use modern microscopic instruments for testing, have a professional evaluation by a doctor, and develop a personalized treatment plan.

According to the pathological conditions of the eyelid margin and ocular surface, three eyelashes can be taken from each of the upper and lower eyelids for preliminary judgment. For patients with fewer eyelashes, in vivo laser confocal microscopy can also be used for preliminary judgment. Under an optical microscope, these "invisible" killers that make your eyes itch unbearably have nowhere to hide. If the number of mites detected is more than 3, treatment is required.

Dongguan Aier Eye Hospital has a great solution for Demodex infection in the eyes - IPL intense pulsed light technology. As a cutting-edge treatment technology for "deworming" of the eyes, IPL intense pulsed light technology has brought good news to the majority of patients with Demodex infection in the eyes.

Photon energy can penetrate the epidermis to directly heat the meibum, unclog the meibomian glands, relieve dry eye symptoms, and at the same time block the capillaries, inhibit the spread of inflammatory factors, and simultaneously kill microorganisms (bacteria, Demodex mites), eliminating the causes of meibomian gland dysfunction.

Director Ye Jianzhang reminded that if you find your eyes dry and itchy, do not take medication on your own. It is recommended to go to a regular hospital for treatment in time. Generally speaking, as long as the treatment is timely and the right treatment plan is chosen, most patients can get good treatment results.