Blepharitis
Blepharitis is an eyelid inflammation that causes red, inflamed, itchy eyelids as well as the production of dandruff-like scales on the eyelashes. Affecting people of various ages, it is a common eye condition with several causes. Despite being painful, bothersome, or even unsightly, blepharitis is not contagious and does not cause chronic vision loss. The skin issue is tough to control and recurs often. Granulated eyelids are another term for blepharitis. Normally, blepharitis affects patients in both eyes..
Types of Blepharitis
There are two types of Blepharitis:
- Anterior blepharitis
- Posterior blepharitis
Symptoms of Blepharitis
The signs and symptoms of blepharitis are often worse in the morning. They are as follows:
- Watery eyes
- Flaking of the skin around the eyes
- Red eyes
- Eyelids that appear greasy
- A burning or stinging sensation in the eyes
- Itchy eyelids
- Crusted eyelashes
- Red, swollen eyelids
- Blurred vision that usually improves with blinking
- More frequent blinking
- Sensitivity to light
- Eyelid sticking
When to see a doctor?
One should see a doctor if
- Increased pain and/or swelling
- Worsening of vision
- The eyelids become hot to the touch.
- There is blistering and/or rash on the eyelids
- If the condition doesn't really improve, even after a week of self-care
- The lesions (lump or growth) on the eyelids are not responding to warm compress.
Causes
The exact cause of blepharitis is unknown. It appears to be caused by an abnormality in the oil-producing glands of the eyelids. These oil-producing glands are known as meibomian glands, hence this condition is also known as meibomitis. Harmful bacterias in and around these glands may play a role in this condition. Blepharitis appears to be more frequent in those with oily skin, dandruff, and dry eyes and is extremely common in rosacea patients.
Risk factors
A risk factor is something that increases the chance of developing a disease or condition. Blepharitis risk factors include
- Seborrheic dermatitis
- Acne rosacea
- Contact allergies
- Diabetes
- Chemical irritants
- Poor hygiene
- Cosmetic makeup
Complications
Blepharitis inflammation can result in complications such as:
Eyelid skin problems
As a result of long-term blepharitis, one may observe scarring on the eyelids. Additionally, the edges of your eyelid may turn inwards or outwards.
Eyelash problems
Blepharitis can cause the eyelashes to fall off, grow abnormally (misdirected eyelashes), or even lose their colour.
Excess tearing or dry eyes
Abnormal oil secretions and other debris shed from the eyelids, such as flaking associated with dandruff, can build up in water, oil, and mucus solutions forming tears.
Abnormal tears
Blocking eyelashes from becoming moist, this condition may irritate the eyes and induce dryness or excessive tears.
Stye
Stye is an infection that forms around the base of the eyelashes. As a result, one can have a stinging bump on the border of the eyelid
Chalazion
A chalazion occurs when one of the tiny oil glands at the edge of the eyelid, right beneath the eyelashes, get clogged. This blockage promotes inflammation of the gland, causing the eyelids to enlarge and redden. This may go away or turn into a firm, non-tender lump.
Chronic pink eye
Blepharitis can cause recurring symptoms of pink eye commonly known as conjunctivitis.
Injury to the cornea
Persistent discomfort from inflamed eyelids or misdirected eyelashes may cause sore corneas. A corneal infection might be exacerbated by lack of tears.
Prevention
Inflammation of the eyelids can be painful, unpleasant, and unattractive. However, this condition is often not preventable, but there are steps people may undertake to reduce the risk of inflammation.
- Make sure to wash your face on a regular basis. This involves taking off both eye and face makeup before sleeping.
- Don't rub irritated eyelids or contact the eyes with dirty hands.
- Rubbing of eyes may spread the infection. Check eyelids if you notice any discomfort, redness, or swelling.
- Controlling dandruff also helps in the reduction of irritation. One should consult the doctor if they have severe dandruff and might need to use a prescription shampoo.
Diagnosis
A thorough eye examination can be used to detect blepharitis. Tests might include a complete focus on the eyelids and the front surface of the eyeball.
- Patient history is taken to determine the further treatment course as well as to seek any signs of general health problems that have resulted in this eye condition.
- Using bright light and magnification, your doctor will examine the lid margins, the base of the eyelashes, and the meibomian gland apertures.
- External inspection of the eye, including lid structure, skin texture, and the appearance of the eyelashes.
- Examination of the quantity and quality of tears for any anomalies.
Treatment
Blepharitis treatment should begin with a visit to the eye specialist to determine the cause of the eyelid irritation. The doctor will check the eyes and eyelids to determine if the patient has blepharitis and which type of blepharitis treatment is best for them. Blepharitis therapy often consists of::
Eyelid scrubs:
Scrubbing the eyelids gently eliminates the accumulation of biofilm and extra germs from the lid edges. A regular regimen of warm compresses and lid scrubbing is often recommended by the doctor to clean the eyelids and reduce the number of bacteria and demodex mites. Prescription eyelid cleansers, non-prescription eyelid cleansing pads, or diluted baby shampoos can all be used as cleaning agents.
In-office procedures:
While home eyelid scrubbing is often beneficial, in-office eyelid hygiene procedures are frequently advised for more successful blepharitis therapy. Few possible procedures are:
Electromechanical lid margin debridement
This helps remove germs, biofilm, and demodex mites from the eyelids while also opening congested meibomian glands.
Thermal pulsation therapy
This uses a device that melts and expresses obstructive material in the meibomian glands.
IPL treatment
This helps unblock congested eyelid glands and restores the natural flow of oils into the tear film.
Medicated eye drops and/or ointments:
The eye doctor may also prescribe topical medications to kill extra blepharitis-causing bacteria or other microorganisms on the eyelids. This is especially done if the patient has pink eye or another type of eye infection in addition to blepharitis.
Lifestyle Changes and Selfcare
Self-care measures might be the only treatment needed for most cases of blepharitis.
- Application of warm, wet compresses on a regular basis
- Using baby shampoo and a damp cotton ball to clean the eyelids
- Maintaining proper facial and scalp hygiene, including the use of antidandruff shampoo if necessary
- Making sure to remove all makeup every day
- Avoiding any irritants that might lead to blepharitis
- Maintaining control over any underlying conditions (eg, diabetes and acne rosacea)
Do’s and Don’ts
Although blepharitis cannot be completely cured, there are certain home treatment options that can help soothe inflamed eyelids, ease symptoms, and perhaps lessen the frequency of flares experienced by patients. The best blepharitis treatment does not depend on expensive pills or technology, but rather on good old-fashioned cleansing. Following these dos and don'ts will help in the management of this condition.
| Do’s | Don’ts |
| Use a wet and warm cloth to wipe your eyes | Use soap and shampoo until the condition subsides |
| Take medicines regularly | Smoke cigarettes |
| Drink lots of water | Use waterproof eye makeup |
| Take prescription eye drops | Eat unhealthy foods |
| Avoid powder and glitter-based eye shadows | Take too many preservative-free eye drops |
Taking care of yourself and building a healthy immune system can help you fight this condition.
Blepharitis Care at Medicover
At Medicover Hospitals, we have the most experienced team of doctors and medical experts delivering exceptional healthcare services to patients. Our diagnostic department, with its cutting-edge technology and equipments perform the necessary tests for the diagnosis of Blepharitis, that further helps our experts create a unique treatment plan especially for you. We have an experienced team of ophthalmologists that use a multidisciplinary approach to diagnose and treat this condition with extreme precision, resulting in successful outcomes.
