Treatment of trichiasis using an 810-nm diode laser: an efficacy study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the efficacy of an 810-nm diode laser in the treatment of trichiasis.


METHODS
Noncomparative interventional prospective study of 87 patients, providing 153 eyelids with darkly pigmented trichiatic eyelashes, treated with the 810-nm diode laser. The number of trichiatic eyelashes was counted before and after treatment. Patients were followed for 6 months with monthly examinations.


RESULTS
Immediately after laser treatment, the average number of trichiatic eyelashes per patient was reduced from 3.50 (standard deviation, 4.20) to 0.40 (standard deviation, 1.0). Forty-one patients were followed for 3 or more months (minimum of 90 days; maximum, 443 days; standard deviation, 77.23 days). Among these patients, the average number of eyelashes per patient was reduced from 3.58 (standard deviation, 4.15) to 0.73 (standard deviation, 1.60). The paired t tests demonstrated a statistically significant difference between numbers of eyelashes before and after laser treatment irrespective of gender, age, or location of eyelashes.


CONCLUSIONS
The 810-nm diode laser is an effective tool in treating trichiasis.
Pham
Randal T H
RT
Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA. randalpham@lasernews.com
Biesman
Brian S
BS
Silkiss
Rona Z
RZ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005140:Eyelashes / Q000473:pathology*; D005141:Eyelid Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006201:Hair Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D017075:Laser Coagulation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome