Posters

Trichotillomania, compulsive eyelid picking, and corneal leucoma in an old female patient

Poster Details

First Author: C.Danca ROMANIA

Co Author(s):    M. Chihaia   A. Teclici   E. Jigau   C. Costea           

Abstract Details

Purpose:

Trichotillomania is considered a behavioral disorder and is characterized by the recurring habit of pulling one's hair, resulting in secondary alopecia. It affects 1% of the adult population, and 2 to 4.4% of psychiatric patients meet the diagnostic criteria. The scalp, eyebrows and eyelashes are the most commonly affected sites. It can occur at any age and is more prevalent in adolescents and females. Even less is known about this disorder in the elderly.

Setting:

2nd Ophthalmology Clinic, “Prof. Dr. Nicolae Oblu” Emergency Clinical Hospital, Iassy, Romania

Methods:

We describe an unusual case of an elderly woman with positive psychiatric and pulmonary history. The patient presented for the first time with trichotillomania complicated with palpebral eczema, conjunctival keratinization, and corneal leucoma due to compulsive eyelid picking.

Results:

We highlight the treatment complexities we encountered while the patient was treated with acetylcystein for chronic obstructive pulmonary bronchitis.

Conclusions:

N-acetylcysteine is a glutamate modulating agent that appears to offer a promising treatment option for obsessive-compulsive disorder as trichotillomania and its connections with ophthalmology.

Financial Disclosure:

None