The affected eye will become red, inflamed, and may develop a discharge. The dog will squint or blink very often, much like a person when a bug or other foreign matter enters the eye. In severe cases, the cornea may become ulcerated and appear bluish in color. Left untreated, severe corneal ulcerations and infections can develop. The hairs can cause severe irritation and without treatment will usually worsen.
Blindness can result if infections do develop.
Treatment involves the removal of the hairs through the use of surgery or electro-epilation. With electro-epilation, a fine needle is passed into the hair follicle and the follicle is burned to destroy the hair and its roots. If surgery is performed, the lid is actually split and the areas with abnormal hairs are removed. Antibiotic eye drops will also be used with the surgery to eliminate infections. This is a serious eye problem.