title: Electrolysis treatment of trichiasis by using ultra-fine needle.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the safety and efficacy of electrolysis treatment of trichiasis by using ultrafine needle.
  
  
  METHODS
  The medical records of 24 lids of 24 patients who underwent electrolysis treatment for trichiasis by the same surgeon (Y.S.) during the period from May 2006 through December 2008 were reviewed. The average age of the 24 patients was 59.2 years (range, 43 to 76 years). Thirteen of the patients were women.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results were considered satisfactory if no recurrence of trichiasis occurred for at least 6 months after the last electrolysis procedure. Sixteen of the 24 patients (66.6%) had a satisfactory result with 1 treatment. Of the 8 patients (33.3%) who had an unsatisfactory result, while 5 (20.8%) responded well to 1 additional electrolysis, 3 (12.5%) responded well to 2 additional electrolyses to the recurrent cilia. The procedure was well tolerated by the patients. All eyelids healed within 2 weeks after treatment without any scarring. Faint hypopigmentation was visible in 2 patients (8.3%). Mild notching of eyelid occurred in 4 patients (16.6%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Electrolysis treatment by using ultrafine (55-microm thickness) needle is an effective and safe method for treatment of trichiasis with many advantages over other recognized modalities of therapy.
authors.affiliation: Gozmer Eye Center, Denizli, Turkey. yasarsakarya@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Yasar
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sakarya
authors.forename: Rabia
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sakarya
authors.forename: Aydin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yildirim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004572:Electrolysis / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009339:Needles; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D058457:Trichiasis / Q000628:therapy*