ArticlePLoS neglected tropical diseases2017
Eyelash Epilation in the Absence of Trichiasis: Results of a Population-Based Prevalence Survey in the Western Division of Fiji.
Article in PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
9 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 13 citations in OpenAlex.
- Global Perspectives on Kava: A Narrative Systematic Review of the Health Effects, Economic and Social Impacts and Policy Considerations.Drug and alcohol review · 2025Pooled it
- A search for trachoma in Timor-Leste: no evidence to justify undertaking population-based prevalence surveys.Ophthalmic epidemiology · 2018Pooled it
- A systematic review of historical and contemporary evidence of trachoma endemicity in the Pacific Islands.PloS one · 2018Pooled it
- The prevention and management of postoperative trachomatous trichiasis: A systematic review.Survey of ophthalmologyPooled it
- Trachoma.Nature reviews. Disease primers · 2022Review
- The simplified trachoma grading system, amended.Bulletin of the World Health Organization · 2020Article
- The global burden of trichiasis in 2016.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2019Article
- How much trachomatous trichiasis is there? A guide to calculating district-level estimates.Community eye health · 2019Article
- Serology reflects a decline in the prevalence of trachoma in two regions of The Gambia.Scientific reports · 2017Article
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Authors and funding
16 authors at 5 institutions in 4 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundThe WHO definition of trachomatous trichiasis (TT) is "at least one eyelash touching the globe, or evidence of recent epilation of in-turned eyelashes", reflecting the fact that epilation is used as a self-management tool for TT. In Fiji's Western Division, a high TT prevalence (8.7% in those aged ≥15 years) was reported in a 2012 survey, yet a 2013 survey found no TT and Fijian ophthalmologists rarely see TT cases. Local anecdote suggests that eyelash epilation is a common behaviour, even in the absence of trichiasis. Epilators may have been identified as TT cases in previous surveys.
methodsWe used a preliminary focus group to design an interview questionnaire, and subsequently conducted a population-based prevalence survey to estimate the prevalence of epilation in the absence of trichiasis, and factors associated with this behaviour, in the Western Division of Fiji.
resultsWe sampled 695 individuals aged ≥15 years from a total of 457 households in 23 villages. 125 participants (18%) reported epilating their eyelashes at least once within the past year. Photographs were obtained of the eyes of 121/125 (97%) individuals who epilated, and subsequent analysis by an experienced trachoma grader found no cases of trachomatous conjunctival scarring or trichiasis. The age- and sex- adjusted prevalence of epilation in those aged ≥15 years was 8.6% (95% CI 5.7-11.3%). iTaukei ethnicity, female gender, and a higher frequency of drinking kava root were independently associated with epilation.
conclusionEpilation occurs in this population in the absence of trichiasis, with sufficient frequency to have markedly inflated previous estimates of local TT prevalence. Individuals with epilated eyelashes should be confirmed as having epilated in-turned eyelashes in an eye with scarring of the conjunctiva before being counted as cases of TT.
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