St Paul’s Eye Clinic
Royal Liverpool University Hospital
Royal Liverpool University Hospital
Fairfield Independent
Hospital
Hospital
Blepharitis is a common eye disease in which the edges of the eyelids become inflamed.
Blepharitis is a common eye disease in which the edges of the eyelids become inflamed. This can cause pain, irritability, and even more serious eye problems. There are two main types of blepharitis, which affect people of all ages: anterior blepharitis affects the outer front edge of the eyelid where the eyelashes connect, and posterior blepharitis affects the inner edge of the eyelid that touches the eye. Several things can lead to blepharitis, such as bacterial infections, especially those caused by Staphylococcus species, problems with the meibomian glands, seborrhoeic eczema, and skin conditions like rosacea.
Most of the time, a mix of these things causes the condition to start and stay with the person. Overgrowth of bacteria and the biofilm that forms on the eyes can make inflammation and discomfort worse. When the meibomian glands don't work properly, the tear film becomes unstable, which makes symptoms even worse.
In blepharitis, the symptoms can be very annoying. They may include hot, swollen eyelids, burning or stinging eyes, itching, excessive tears, and an odd feeling like something is stuck in the eyes. It is also normal to have crusty stuff at the base of the eyebrows, especially when you first wake up. In the worst cases, blepharitis can make it hard to see, cause eyelashes to fall out, or cause eyelashes to rub against the eye, making it even more irritated. If you don't treat chronic blepharitis, it can sometimes lead to more serious problems like conjunctivitis, keratitis, or even corneal sores. Because blepharitis is ongoing, symptoms can come and go over time, so it's often necessary to come up with long-term ways to handle it.
An eye doctor will usually do a full physical check to diagnose blepharitis. They will look at the edges of the eyelids, the quality of the tear film, and how well the meibomian glands are working. People often use a slit-lamp test to get a clear picture of the pupil and eye area. In some cases, more tests may be needed to rule out other diseases or find the exact types of bacteria causing the inflammation. Even though there isn't a single test that can prove for sure that someone has blepharitis, a mix of clinical signs and symptoms described by the patient is usually enough to make the diagnosis. Figuring out the root cause is very important for making sure the treatment plan works well.
Blepharitis is mostly treated by taking care of the symptoms and keeping the eyelids clean. A key part of management is regularly cleaning the edges of the eyelids to get rid of crusts and other dirt. To do this, first use warm cloths to soften the crusts, then gently scrub the area with a weak mix of baby shampoo or an eyelash cleaner that you can buy in stores. Topical medicines like erythromycin or bacitracin ointments may be given to people who have a bacterial illness. Oral medicines like doxycycline can help because they reduce inflammation, especially in people whose meibomian glands aren't working properly.
Taking care of skin problems like seborrhoeic dermatitis or rosacea can also help lower the number and intensity of blepharitis flare-ups. Topical corticosteroids or cyclosporine can also be used to treat inflammation, but they are usually only used for a short time because they can cause side effects. Intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment and heat pulsation devices are two new ways to help the meibomian gland work better. For long-term treatment and symptom relief, it is very important to teach patients about how blepharitis is ongoing and how important it is to keep up with a normal eyelid cleaning routine.
