Blepharitis is an inflammation forming around your eyelid margins. Though this eye condition is not sight threatening, it can cause discomfort, and in most cases is often a chronic condition.
With many patients the condition has been present for sometime before symptoms manifest themselves.
Symptoms of Blepharitis
- Eyelids become inflamed and red coloured
- A crusting can form around the eyelid
- Discomfort caused by itchiness
- Sensations that something is in our eye like grit
- Burning sensation
Treatments for Blepharitis
Treatments mostly involve increasing your level of hygiene to remove the inflammation. It is not a cure but will help to ease the redness and discomfort.
Normally you will see and feel a difference 4-6 week after your treatment begins. It is essential that you refrain from rubbing your eye and that you persevere throughout.
Eyelid Cleansing – an Effective Blepharitis Treatment
- Step 1 – Hold a hot clean flannel to your affected eye for five minutes. Should the flannel cool down, heat it up in hot water. Microwavable hot – compress can assist you in this procedure. The idea is that the hot water will melt the oil in blocked glands, and loosen crusts which may have formed.
- Step 2 – Massage your eyelids by rolling your fingers across your eyelid from your nose to your temple. This should be done for both your upper and lower eyelids and care should be taken that you do not touch the inside of your eyelid.
- Step 3 – Using cotton buds clean any crusts around the roots of your eye lashes. You can also use eyelid wipes and cleaning foams for this purpose too. Practice the treatment once per day. Under no circumstances should you touch the inside of your eyelid.
Sometime stronger treatments are required. See below:
- Antibiotics – A doctor may proscribe antibiotic treatment for Blepharitis. If this is the case, apply it after you have applied the previous three steps, and simply use a cotton bud or the tip of your clean finger to gently rub the cream into the tip of your lashes on both your top and bottom eye lid. This should be done nightly for two weeks, and the twice a week for a further ten weeks.
- Steroid eye drops – For severe cases you may be treated with steroid based eye drops. Always follow instructions of the prescribing medical professionals to the letter.
- Artificial Tears – Again if your specialist has proscribed these follow instructions precisely
- Flax Seed or Omega 3 Oil Capsules – These capsules improve the quality of the oil produced by your glands and prevents evaporation and as such brings relief. Available without prescription, these should be taken when you eat breakfast and your meal in the evening.
Coping with Blepharitis
It is a good idea not to wear makeup when you have an outbreak of the condition as this prevents good hygiene. The condition tends to reoccur from time to time.
If you have any issues with blepharitis please do not hesitate to contact us for further advice. And don’t forget your regular eye check. Visit this page if you want to make an appointment.
Image: NHS