Distichiasis means that you have an extra set of eyelashes that have grown in the wrong place on your eyelids. Treatment ranges from eye drops to surgery to remove the lashes.
Distichiasis refers to having an extra row of eyelashes. You might have a complete extra set, or you might have one or two or more extra lashes on each lid. Distichiasis is pronounced di-stuh-kai-uh-suhs. It was also called Blatt distichiasis after the optometrist who wrote about the condition.
If you have distichiasis, both eyelids have extra lashes. The extra lashes might be shorter or thinner than your first set.
The condition may be present at birth (congenital) or may happen later in life as a result of something else happening (acquired).
The extra eyelashes grow from a different place on your eyelids than the usual lashes. The extra lashes of distichiasis grow from your meibomian glands. These glands have the job of helping to lubricate your eyes.
Distichiasis is estimated to happen in about 1 in 10,000 people.
Lymphedema distichiasis syndrome is an inherited condition. People who have it have both lymphedema and distichiasis. Lymphedema is a condition of the lymphatic system that involves excess lymphatic fluid (lymph) collecting in the body’s soft tissues, usually in the arms and legs. This causes swelling. The syndrome is caused when people inherit variants of the FOXC2 gene.
About 94% of the people with this syndrome will have both lymphedema and distichiasis.
Other conditions that you may have if you have lymphedema distichiasis syndrome include:
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Signs and symptoms of distichiasis include:
Different types of congenital distichiasis have different causes.
The cause of congenital distichiasis is a genetic issue that happens during conception. In some cases, the cells of your eyes develop incorrectly and you end up with hair follicles where they aren’t supposed to be located. In some of these cases, the gene involved is the FOXC2 gene. This particular gene is involved in the development of many other things besides double eyelashes.
Many factors may cause acquired distichiasis, including:
No, distichiasis isn’t contagious.
Your healthcare provider can diagnose distichiasis (double eyelashes) with an eye exam that includes a slit-lamp test. A slit lamp is a microscope that lets your provider see your eye under magnification.
There are many eye conditions, including an entropion (the inward turning of your eyelids), that may cause some of the same symptoms as distichiasis. Your provider may need to order additional testing to confirm their diagnosis.
Many people who have double eyelashes won’t need treatment.
Nonsurgical treatments may include wearing certain types of contact lenses and using eye drops to reduce irritation.
If you need treatment, your healthcare provider will remove the extra lashes. The ways that your provider will remove the extra hairs include:
Plucking will only last two to three weeks. It’s likely that you’ll need several sessions of cryotherapy, electrolysis or laser thermal ablation to eliminate all hairs.
If you have lymphedema distichiasis syndrome, you may need other types of treatment.
You can’t prevent congenital distichiasis. You may want to consult a genetic counselor if you have lymphedema distichiasis syndrome.
You may be able to prevent getting distichiasis as a result of chemical burns or other injuries to your eye if you wear proper protective equipment when working with chemicals or with equipment related to fires.
The outlook for someone with distichiasis is generally good. You may have to have repeated treatments to rid yourself of the extra eyelashes that are bothering you. You may be able to stop any irritation with lubricating drops.
Always contact or see your healthcare provider if you have eye irritation that you can’t get rid of or if you have eye pain. If you have a distichiasis diagnosis, ask your provider what kinds of symptoms you should watch for. Ask what type of situation would require emergency care. If you do have lymphedema distichiasis syndrome, you may want to ask about genetic counseling or support groups.
Trichiasis is when your eyelashes are misdirected or aren't in the right position.
Distichiasis refers to having two rows of eyelashes, while districhiasis refers to having three rows of eyelashes.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
You might think that having something called double eyelashes would be a good thing. And distichiasis isn’t really a bad thing. You may, however, have eye pain or irritation because of distichiasis. You may have repeated infections like pink eye or styes. You may also have the somewhat more serious condition of lymphedema distichiasis syndrome. Talk to your eye care provider as early as possible if you have, or your child has, these issues. Early detection leads to early treatment and early relief.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 09/12/2022.
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Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy