Blepharitis
Blepharitis is a common and persistent inflammation of the eyelids and eyelid margins. Symptoms include redness, irritation, and itching. Often, these symptoms are worse in the morning. Patients often complain that there is "sand" in their eyes.
Flakes and deposits on the lashes are typical in
blepharitis.
This condition frequently
occurs in people who have a fair complexion, especially in
those that have other eye problems, including acne rosacea
and dry eyes. Children can also be affected, and this may
become a chronic problem, or it may develop later in life.
Bacteria reside on the surface of everyone's skin, but in
some individuals they thrive on the skin at the base of the
eyelashes along the eyelid margins. This is worsened when
there is an overactivity and buildup of the oil secreted by
glands in the eyelids. The result is redness of the eyelid
margin, frequently with dandruff-like scales and particles
along the lashes and eyelid margins.
Symptoms from the irritation and inflammation vary from
minor occasional irritation and itching to redness,
stinging, and burning. Some people, especially those that
wear soft contact lenses, may develop an aggressive allergy
to the blepharitis which can lead to inflammation and
potential destruction to other eye tissues, particularly
the cornea (the clear dome in the front of the eye that
sits in front of the iris, the colored part of the eye).
Blepharitis may not be completely cured, but it can usually
be controlled with simple daily lid scrubs. At least twice
a day, use some "no-tears" baby shampoo (such as Johnson's
and Johnson's©) diluted in warm water to gently scrub the
eyelashes and lid margin about 15 seconds for with a
washcloth, your fingertip, or a Q-tip. Use of a mild
shampoo is important in removing the oily secretions from
the eyelids' oil glands that have built up on the lid
margins that promote bacterial overgrowth. In addition, it
helps liquefy these oily secretions which helps prevent the
development of a chalazion, an inflamed lump in an eyelid
oil gland (see Styes and Chalazia for
additional information).
Using lid scrubs will minimize the need to use additional
medications to control blepharitis and its symptoms:
- Dry eye symptoms can worsen blepharitis, and is especially common in dry climates like we have in Colorado. Artificial tears, which are available without a prescription, may be used to relieve the symptoms of dry eyes (see Dry Eyes for additional information).
- A short course of steroid drops may be useful in decreasing the acute inflammation from blepharitis.
- Antibiotic drops or ointment may also be useful to treat aggressive bacterial overgrowth. In addition, some oral antibiotics are also often useful in the treatment of severe blepharitis.