Katabarwa also has stories of people inflicting harm upon themselves because of the itchiness.

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Relief from itchiness comes with the ivermectin -- even for someone who has lived with the disease for more than 50 years, he said.

CNN: With river blindness, 'you never sleep'

Latisse uses sterile wands for each application, but carries other risks, including eye redness and itchiness, and skin darkening, which goes away after the product is no longer used.

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