These are the consequences of sleeping with a… See more

What can happen to your eyes while you sleep and how to protect them.
A shocking image circulating on social media shows an eye seemingly infested with tiny organisms around the eyelashes, accompanied by a warning about the supposed consequences of sleeping in certain conditions. While the photograph appears alarming, it’s important to clarify something from the outset:  the image seems to be manipulated or created for illustrative purposes . The organisms shown are of a size and appearance that don’t correspond to how certain microorganisms associated with eyelashes would normally be seen with the naked eye. However, behind these posts lies a real issue that many people are unaware of: tiny mites known as Demodex can live in eyelash follicles  .

They are microscopic and, in normal quantities, can be found in many people without causing any problems. The situation changes when there is excessive proliferation or other factors appear that cause inflammation.

Can tiny mites really exist on eyelashes?
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Yes. There are different species of Demodex mites that can be found naturally on human skin.

Two of the best-known are  Demodex folliculorum  and  Demodex brevis . They can live around hair follicles and sebaceous glands, including the eyelash area.

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But there is a fundamental difference compared to many viral images: these organisms are extremely small.

They shouldn’t be seen crawling on your eyelashes like large insects. Magnification is usually needed to observe them properly.

Why can a person have them without realizing it?

The presence of Demodex does not automatically mean that there is a disease.

Many people can have them without experiencing any symptoms. The problem can arise when their number increases significantly or when they coincide with certain alterations of the ocular surface and eyelids.

In these cases, irritation and inflammation may develop around the eyelashes.

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Signs that may appear on the eyelids

When there is a significant proliferation of Demodex or other forms of blepharitis, some people may experience different discomforts.

These may include itching around the eyelashes, burning sensation, redness of the eyelids, eye irritation, and accumulation of residue around the base of the eyelashes.

You may also experience the sensation of having sand or some other object in your eye.

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Scabs around the eyelashes deserve attention.

A characteristic sign associated with certain cases of Demodex blepharitis is the appearance of debris around the base of the eyelashes.

They may appear as small whitish structures or deposits attached to the hair.

However, other eyelid diseases can also cause flaking and crusting, so it’s not advisable to try to determine the cause just by looking at pictures on the internet.