What is blepharitis?
‘Blepharitis’ means inflammation of the edges of the eyelids. There are three main categories:
- anterior blepharitis affecting mainly the eyelashes and skin
- posterior blepharitis affecting mainly the meibomian (oil) glands
- mixed blepharitis affecting both
What causes blepharitis?
Blepharitis is very common. Mr Lin will ask you questions and examine you to determine the cause.
Causes include:
- skin conditions such as dermatitis/eczema (anterior blepharitis), rosacea (posterior blepharitis), acne and psoriasis
- infections such as demodex
- medications, including drops used in glaucoma
- very rarely, a type of cancer can be mistaken for blepharitis (sebaceous gland carcinoma)
What are the symptoms of blepharitis?
Anterior blepharitis can cause itching and eyelid crusting. Posterior blepharitis can lead to dry eye with burning, grittiness and blurred vision. The oil glands will be clogged and not producing oil to moisturise the eyes. Sometimes the eye itself can be affected, with redness and sensitivity to light (marginal keratitis).
What is the treatment for blepharitis?
There is usually no cure, only control. The key is treating the underlying condition. Antibiotic and steroids drops may help in the short term. Longer term treatment include eyelid wipes and warm compress with finger massage, and should be thought of as routine like brushing your teeth.
- Anterior blepharitis: regular eyelid wipes help to reduce bacteria on the eyelids. Moisturiser may help for skin issues. Tea tree oil wipes help eradicate demodex infections.
- Posterior blepharitis: warm compresses help to unclog the oil glands and help moisturise the eye and reduce symptoms of dry eye. Massaging the eyelids towards the eye will help empty out those glands once the eyelid is warmed up. IPL or Lipiflow can supplement this. Oral omega oil supplements may also help. Oral antibiotics work well for rosacea. Changing your glaucoma drops sometimes helps.
Useful websites
2 thoughts on “Blepharitis”