What is blepharitis?
Blepharitis is the inflammation of the edge of the eyelids. It is generally chronic and affects both eyes.
What are the symptoms of blepharitis?
⦁ Redness of the edge of the
eyelid
⦁ Swollen eyelid
⦁ Itching, irritations
⦁ Dry skin flakes and crusts on the eyelashes
⦁ Symptoms of dry eyes (see Dry Eye)
⦁ Eyelid crusts upon wakening
⦁ Ulceration of the eyelid edge
How does blepharitis develop?
There
are 2 kinds of blepharitis:
● Acute blepharitis: Can be caused by bacteria (usually staphylococcal) on the eyelashes. It may also be due to a virus (e.g. herpes simplex virus) or an allergic reaction.
● Chronic
blepharitis: a non-infectious inflammation of unknown cause. The fatty layer that reduces tear evaporation is produced by the meibomian glands in the eyelids. In the case of chronic blepharitis, the secretion
of the meibomian glands thicken and may even block the openings of the gland. This condition is often associated with ocular rosacea and chronic chalazions.
What are the available treatments?
The treatment of an acute blepharitis aims to treat its cause:
- Antibiotics if caused by bacteria
- Antiviral if caused by virus
- Antihistamines if caused by allergy
The treatment
of chronic blepharitis should be long-term and requires rigorous eyelid hygiene:
- Hot compresses: Leave 5 to 10 minutes on the eyelids, several times a day. This step will soften gland secretions and eyelash crusts.
- Eyelid
scrubs - Clean the edge of the eyelids and the base of the eyelashes with diluted baby shampoo. Commercially available eyelash wipes can also be purchased over-the-counter in pharmacies.
- Artificial tears if dry eye symptoms
are present.
