Blepharitis: causes, symptoms and treatment

The inflammation of the edge of the eyelid can be caused by an excessive proliferation of bacteria in that area as a result of alterations or an incorrect functioning of the sebaceous glands of the eyelid, which are located next to the base of the eyelashes. When a person suffers from blepharitis, these sebaceous glands secrete more amount of fatthan normal causing fatty acids to form that end up irritating the ocular surface. This causes both inflammation and redness of the eyelids, as well as an accumulation of secretions in the area that favor the excessive growth of bacteria. These bacteria release toxins that increase the irritation of the eyelids and further aggravate the symptoms of this condition.

In addition to the above, there are other conditions or conditions that can cause blepharitis, such as the following:

• Dermatitis seborreica.
• Ocular rosacea .
• Psoriasis.
• Presence of mites in the eyelash follicles.
• Allergies to certain products or substances, such as face gels, soaps, makeup products, creams, medications, etc.

Blepharitis often develops in people with a tendency to have oily skin, dandruff, or dry eyes. This condition is also associated with meibomitis (a problem with the sebaceous glands of the eyelids, called meibomian glands).

Three types of blepharitis can be distinguished :

1. Anterior blepharitis: affects the outer area of ​​the eyelid, just where the eyelashes are. It can be caused by bacteria or, in some cases, by a viral infection.
2. Posterior blepharitis: occurs when the sebaceous glands cause bacteria to grow on the inside of the eyelid, which can be the result of skin conditions, such as rosacea or seborrheic dermatitis. In this type of blepharitis, the rheumy characteristics of this ocular condition occur.
3. Mixed blepharitis – at the same time, components of anterior and posterior blepharitis occur. What happens is that posterior blepharitis favors the proliferation of bacteria and leads to the infection typical of anterior blepharitis.

In turn, anterior blepharitis can be distinguished into the following types:

• Seborrheic blepharitis: there is an increase in fat secretions on the edge of the eyelids, which leads to an excessive accumulation of fat in the tear duct area and the presence of waxy scales. Consequently, eye irritation occurs.
• Squamous blepharitis: presence of scales that cause the formation of hard crusts around the eyelashes. This causes that the affected person presents / displays severe difficulties to open the eyes in the morning when waking up.

The severity of blepharitis can vary considerably from one person to another, since, sometimes, it is a mild irritation of a temporary nature and, on other occasions, it constitutes a more serious condition in which it can even be see impaired vision. Among the most common symptoms of blepharitis are the following:

• Inflammation of the eyelids.
• Redness of the eyelids.
• Formation of legañas or yellow crusts on the edge of the eyelids where the eyelashes are located.
• Tearing
• Itch.
• Ardor.
• Eye discomfort
• Increased sensitivity to light.
• Uncomfortable feeling of having something strange in the eye.
• Blurred vision in cases of more severe blepharitis.

It is important to note that the symptoms of blepharitis usually appear in a pronounced way when waking up in the morning.

Given the above symptoms, it is important to go to the doctor or make a consultation with the ophthalmologist. The specialist will determine what is the cause of the problem and will establish the most appropriate treatment in each case. If an in-office eye hygiene procedure is necessary, treatment for blepharitis may include the following:

• BlephEx: it is an electromechanical debridement of the edge of the eyelid that is carried out to eliminate the bacteria present in the area and the mites, as well as to get the meibomian glands to unblock.
• Lipiflow: it is a thermal pulsation treatment by means of which the material that is obstructing the meibomian glands is dissolved and channeled.
• IPL: is the intense pulsed light therapy that restores the normal functioning of the sebaceous glands of the eyelids, causing the flow of natural oils to the tear film to return normally.

Use of artificial tears

The specialist may also recommend the use of eye drops in order to eliminate the excess of bacteria or microbes present on the eyelids and causing this condition. In addition, the symptoms of blepharitis can be greatly reduced with the use of these artificial tears.

Use of antibiotic ointments

In those cases of acute outbreaks of blepharitis, in which there is a risk of bacterial infection or in which conjunctivitis or another type of eye infection is suffered at the same time, it is very likely that the doctor will prescribe the application of an antibiotic ointment on the eyelid affected. Only in more serious cases, oral antibiotics can be prescribed.

When one suffers from this eye condition, one of the most important measures that the affected person must adopt is the daily hygiene and cleaning of the eyelids , both to eliminate legañas and scabs and to avoid a greater bacterial proliferation.

Ocular hygiene

Cleaning the eyelids must be done correctly for it to give good results. The steps to follow are those:

1. Wash your hands.
2. Dampen a clean gauze in warm water.
3. Gently clean the edge of the eyelids before opening the eyes and without exerting much pressure.
4. Moisten a cotton swab with a little neutral pH soap and water and wipe it over the affected area. You can also use a specific cleanser for eyelids sold in pharmacies.
5. Rinse with another gauze moistened in lukewarm water giving small touches on the area.
6. Initially, you can perform this cleaning several times a day for about 5 minutes. As blepharitis heals, it can be done only once a day.

Application of warm compresses

Moistening a towel or gauze with warm, almost hot water and placing it on the closed eyelids for 1 minute helps to soften the bruises and scales present, in addition to reducing discomfort and preventing the development of a pronounced bulge known as a chalazion.

Measures to prevent blepharitis

• Avoid the habit of rubbing your eyes continuously.
• Wash hands frequently.
• Avoid continued use of eye makeup products and do not share them with other people.
• Clean the eyes and eyelids thoroughly daily.
• Include foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids in the daily diet , as these help maintain healthy meibomian glands.

This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to Blepharitis: causes, symptoms and treatment , we recommend that you enter our Eyes and Vision category .