Blepharitis
Blepharitis means inflammation of the eyelids and typically involves the part of the eyelid where your eyelashes grow. It is extremely common – almost everyone gets blepharitis at some time in his or her life. Fortunately, blepharitis is relatively easy to treat.
Symptoms
- Red eyes and/or red, swollen eyelids
- Itchy eyelids
- Watery eyes
- Sticky discharge that causes the eyelashes to stick together
- Tiny pimples on the eyelid edges
- Flaking of the skin around the eyes
- Gritty burning sensation in the eye
- Light sensitivity
- Eyelashes that grow abnormally
Causes
- Poor eyelid hygiene
- Excess oil produced by the glands in the eyelid
- Bacterial infection (often staphylococcal)
- Allergic reaction
Treatment
In addition to eliminating redness and soreness, treatment can prevent potential infection and scarring of the cornea. Your doctor will perform a complete eye examination to determine the most effective treatment.
Cleaning the area – Usually, blepharitis can be controlled by careful, daily cleaning of the eyelashes with a warm washcloth. You can do this by moistening a clean washcloth with tap water as warm as you can stand without burning. Hold the washcloth against the eyelids until it cools, then rewarm and repeat for five to ten minutes. After soaking, scrub each eyelid gently for one minute using a clean washcloth wrapped around your index finger and moistened with warm tap water. Cotton-tipped applicators, like Q-tips, are also useful to remove accumulated material from the eyelashes.
Medication – In some cases, your doctor may prescribe eye drops or ointment such as artificial tears, antibiotics or steroid drops/ointments to be used along with the daily cleansing regimen.
Cleaning the area – Usually, blepharitis can be controlled by careful, daily cleaning of the eyelashes with a warm washcloth. You can do this by moistening a clean washcloth with tap water as warm as you can stand without burning. Hold the washcloth against the eyelids until it cools, then rewarm and repeat for five to ten minutes. After soaking, scrub each eyelid gently for one minute using a clean washcloth wrapped around your index finger and moistened with warm tap water. Cotton-tipped applicators, like Q-tips, are also useful to remove accumulated material from the eyelashes.
Medication – In some cases, your doctor may prescribe eye drops or ointment such as artificial tears, antibiotics or steroid drops/ointments to be used along with the daily cleansing regimen.Although medications may help control the symptoms of blepharitis, they alone are not sufficient. Keeping the eyelids clean is essential.
If you think you may have blepharitis, give our office a call today at 248-348-1330 to schedule an appointment so we can recommend the right combination of treatment specifically for you.