It is the inflammation of eyelids which involves part of the eyelid where eyelashes grow. It occurs when the oil glands located near the eyelashes get blocked or clogged.
It is a chronic condition that is difficult to treat. It can be uncomfortable but doesn’t cause any damage to the eyesight and it’s not contagious.
Symptoms:
- Watery eyes & Red eyes
- stinging or burning sensation in eyes
- Itchy eyelids
- Red, swollen eyelids
- Flaking of the skin around the eyes
- Crusted eyelashes upon awakening
- Eyelid sticking
- More frequent blinking
- Sensitivity to light
- Eyelashes that grow abnormally
- Loss of eyelashes
Causes:
- Seborrheic dermatitis -dandruff of the scalp and eyebrows
- A bacterial infection
- Clogged or malfunctioning oil glands in your eyelids
- Rosacea, a skin condition characterized by facial redness
- Eyelash mites or lice
Complications:
- Eyelash problems
- Scarring of eyelids
- Dry eyes
- Difficulty wearing contact lenses
- Stye and chalazion
Diagnosis:
It includes
- Examination of eyelids
- Swabbing skin for testing: the doctor may swab the crust or sample of oil produced from the glands for culture and sensitivity to analyze for any evidence of bacterial or fungal growth.
Treatment:
- Self-care such as washing eyes and warm compresses may be the only treatment necessary for most of the cases.
Others include
- Medication to fight infection: antibiotic creams, ointments, and eye drops are prescribed in most of the cases to fight the infection. If topical antibiotics are not working then oral antibiotics are prescribed.
- Medications to control inflammation: steroid eye drops and ointments may control inflammation.
- Treatment of underlying cause: Blepharitis caused by seborrheic dermatitis, rosacea or other diseases may be controlled by treating the underlying disease.
Lifestyle and Home Remedies:
- Clean your eyes daily
- Lubricate your eyes
- Control dandruff
By,
Dr.chandrashekar
https://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/blepharitis.htm
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/blepharitis/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/blepharitis/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20370148
