Bleparitis NHS Treatment Link
Blepharitis is an inflammation of the eyelid.
It can make eylids red and eyelashes crusty.
It can make the eyes feel iritated or itchy.
It normally affects both eyes
It can lead to burning, soreness or stinging in the eye.
In severe cases the lashes may fall out.
Small ulcers and styes can develop.
Eyelids can become puffy.
Symptoms tend to be worse in the morning.
On waking, the lids may be stuck together.
Blepharitis is a long term (chronic) condition.
Treatment may take several months.
Once you've had it, it can come back even after it has been cleared up.
Anterior blepharitis affects the outside front edge of teh eyelid (near or among the eyelashes)
It may be caused by staphylococcus bacteria
Posterior blepharitis is also called meibomian gland disfunction (MGD).
This is casused when something affects the inside rim of the eyelid just behind the eyelashes.
This is where the meobomina glands are which produce the oily layer of the tears.
A complication of seborrhoeic dermatitis is blepharitis, causing the skin to become inflammed and flaky.
It also involves the scalp causing dandruff, as well as the lashes, ears and eyebrows.
Seborrhoeic dermatitis can cause both anterior and posterior blepharitis and MGD.
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Who is at risk of blepharitis?
Blepharitis is more common in people aged over 50, but it can develop at any age. As you get older, the glands in your eyelids that secrete part of your tears become blocked more easily. Your tears contain few lubricants and your eyes can feel gritty and dry, so seborrhoeic blepharitis and MGD tend to happen more in older people.
How should I look after my eyes if I have blepharitis?
It is possible to make your eyes more comfortable, but blepharitis often cannot be totally curerd.
If you have blepharitis, avoid smoky atmospheres and eye make up, particularly eye liner and mascara.
There are treatments which can help you reduce the effects of blepharitis.
However, there is no strong evidence that any treatment can completely cure the condition. You may need treartment for several months.
1. Warm Compresses work by warming the material that blocks the glands and loosen the crusts on the eyelid.
This makes them easier to remove.
You can buy reusable warming packs which you heat up in the microwave.
Although not as effective, you can use a flannel, cotton wool ball or something similar as a warm compress. Soak the compress in hot, but not boiling, water.
Place it on the edge of your closed eyelids for five minutes, rocking it gently.
This will lossen the crusts. You can then clean the lids.
Use a separate clean compress for each eye.
2. Lid cleaning is best achieved using a specilist lid wipe.
Gently clean the edges of your eyelids near your lashes. Wipe from the inside (near your nose) to the outside corner.
Be careful not to clean inside the eyelid or to touch the cornea.
Repeat this twice daily at first, reducing to once a day as the condition improves.
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If this does not work, your GP or a prescribing optometrist may prescribe antibiotic ointment or tablets.
They will tell you how long to treat in this way, and may be weeks or months.
The benefits may last for a few months after treatment is complete.
Anterior
Inflammation affects the skin around the base of the lashes.
Caused by a staphyloccocus bacteria reaction, reason unknown. This bacteria lives on the skin of everybody, but sometimes a reaction occurs.
May instead be caused by seborrhoeic dermatitis which can cause the skin to become oily or flakey, sometimes blocks the meibomina glands and can cause the lids to become sore
Posterior ~ inflammation affects the meobomian glands
Caused by the blockage of meibomian glands from debris, skin flakes or inflammation
Blockages may also be related to rosacea if too much oil is being produced
Mixed ~ combination of anterior and posterior (most common)
Blepharitis may lead on to dry symptoms
There are three main steps to eyelid hygiene that should be performed once or twice a day:
More severe cases may require antibiotics that are either applied to the eye or eyelid directly, or taken as tablets.