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.
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.
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.
