.Blepharitis can lead to other eyelids and eye problems, including Stye, Chalazion, Dry eye, Damage to the cornea, and Chronic red eye
Blepharitis is an eye condition that causes your eyelids to become red, swollen, irritated, and itchy. It can also cause crusty dandruff-like flakes on your eyelashes. It is not contagious but can be very uncomfortable.
Blepharitis is a very common condition that affects all ages and ethnic groups.
According to NEI (National Eye Institute), symptoms of blepharitis include
- Gritty feeling, like there’s something in the eye
- Burning or stinging eyes
- Watery eyes
- Itchy eyes
- Sensitivity to light
- Red and swollen eyes or eyelids
- Tears that are foamy or have small bubbles in them
- Dry eyes
- Crusty eyelids or eyelashes when you wake up
Dealing with Blepharitis:
Blepharitis, in general, is just a term describing some sort of “inflammation,” or I like to explain it as the state of unhappiness in the eyelid environment.
With that in mind, when dealing with Blepharitis, it is a good idea to find out these few things:
- Where in the eyelids are the unhappiness occur?
Is it the front of the eyelids (anterior) of the back/ closest to the eye (posterior)?
Anterior: The edge of the eyelid (eyelid margin)
Colonization of bacteria in and around the base of your eyelashes can cause the eyelid to be inflamed. You are at higher risk for Blepharitis if you have oily skin, Rosacea, dandruff, or allergies that affect your eyelashes.
Overpopulation of normal microbiota like some normal bacteria and mites can create an unhappy environment.
Blepharitis is a chronic condition that usually doesn’t go away completely. However, there are steps to manage your symptoms. The main treatment for blepharitis is by doing lid hygiene regularly, keeping the bacteria at bay and free of crusts.
Posterior Blepharitis is often known as MGD or Meibomian Gland Dysfunction, or the clogging of the meibomian gland. The eye’s protective barrier. When the eye lacks a protective barrier, the tears evaporate fast, and the eye can become dry and feel itchy or gritty as if there’s a foreign body in the eye. The eyes can be red and watery, and the vision becomes blurry.
The eyelids also can become sore and swollen as the glands become blocked.
The treatment involves releasing the clogged oily glands using hot compresses.
How do you know if your heating eye mask is doing it’s job?
