Blepharitis

Blepharitis is a chronic inflammation of the eyelids. It usually affects both eyes along the edges of the eyelids.

It commonly occurs when tiny oil glands near the base of the eyelashes become clogged, causing irritation and redness. Blepharitis can be uncomfortable and unsightly but it usually doesn't cause permanent damage to your eyesight. Several treatments are available to control the condition.

Signs of Blepharitis

The following may indicate signs of Blepharitis:

• Redness and inflammation of the eyelid sometimes accompanied with crusting especially on waking.
• Burning, itching and discomfort
• Dry eye and gritty sensation
• Blurred vision

Symptoms can be mild to severe and a medical practitioner can advise on the management of the condition.

Causes of Blepharitis

This eye disorder can be grouped into anterior and posterior blepharitis.

We have a normal amount of bacteria living in our eye but sometimes when too much occurs especially at the base of our eyelashes this can cause blepharitis. You can also get the condition when the glands in the eyelids that produces the oil in our tears, which prevents evaporation of tears, becomes clogged. This is called Meibomian gland dysfunction.

• Within the eyelid, there are 50 - 60 meibomian glands
• It is these glands that produce lipids (oils) that are found floating on the film of tears on the eye surface and prevents them from rapid evaporation
• In a case where the glands do not produce enough oils, the tears evaporate very quickly (a condition known as evaporative dry eye) which leads to tears being concentrated, and the surface of the eye gets inflamed.

Increased risk factors for Blepharitis include dandruff, rosacea (a skin condition that causes redness and bumps, usually on your face), oily skin and allergies.

Uncontrolled Blepharitis can lead to:

• Stye. A stye is a red, painful bump on the eyelid caused by a blocked oil gland.
• Chalazion. A chalazion is a hard, painless lump on the eyelid caused by a blocked oil gland. Often, this happens when you have a stye that doesn’t go away. It can make your eyelid swell and turn red. A chalazion will often go away on its own.
• Dry eye. Oil and flakes can build up in your tear film (a thin layer of tears across the surface of your eye). This can make your eyes feel dry. Or your eyes may feel watery or teary because your tears aren’t working correctly. 
• Damage to the cornea. In severe cases, blepharitis can hurt your cornea (the clear outer layer at the front of your eye). This can happen because of swelling or irritation in your eyelids or eye lashes that grow in the wrong direction.
• Chronic (long-term) red eye. Blepharitis can make the white part of your eye look red all of the time.

Treatment Options

A thorough inspection of the eyelids by a trained medical practitioner is crucial in the diagnosis of Blepharitis. A good eyelid hygiene routine to remove any crusts will keep the eyelids clean and reduce symptoms over a period of time.

BlephEx™ is another effective treatment where a patented medical device removes accumulated biofilm, scurf and debris from the eyelids.  Since the lid margin is the only place on the body that never gets washed, the bacterial biofilm tends to accumulate over the years, getting worse as we age. Contact lens wearers are also prone to developing biofilms of the lid margin at a much earlier age due to the foreign body nature of the contact lens.

To administer the device, a physician glides the BlephEx™ hand piece along the lash line, applying the spinning surgical-grade micro sponge to the lid margin. The sponge is soaked in a lid scrub solution and removes inflammatory scurf, biofilm and bacterial exotoxins (the main causes of inflammatory lid disease), thereby relieving blepharitis symptoms and improving overall eyelid health. The treatment takes 8-10 minutes to perform, is well tolerated and it is reported that many patients experience almost immediate relief.

By repeating the procedure every 4-6 months (like a dental cleaning), a patient can keep the lid margins totally clean and inflammation free. This healthy lid environment helps patients make their own tears, avoiding dry eye syndrome.

Symptoms may be mild or severe, and the kind of treatment you get will depend on how serious your symptoms get.

Practical Steps on How to Keep Your Eyelids in Good Condition

Good eyelid care will remove any blockages in the oil glands that causes inflammation. This means oil will flow well around the eyelids. It will also help you keep the affected area warm and clean - a solution to blepharitis.

Do not expect to get instant results immediately after you start eyelid hygiene practice. It will take some time before you begin to achieve noticeable results. So, you have to make a daily effort to clean your eyelids and keep them hygienic at all times. Perseverance is very crucial.

Cleanse

Close your eyelids and hold a warm damp clean cloth against them for approx. 5 minutes. Doing so will dissolve oils held up in the glands and make the skin and crusts bonded to the eyelids soft. When the cloth gets cool, warm it up again in hot water. For ease of this procedure, get hot-compresses that can be heated in a microwave.

Massage

Make sure your hands are cleaned or sanitised before you start this part of the process. Gently massage your eyelids with your finger by carefully moving it across the lids from the nose to the temple. This procedure should be repeated on your lower and upper eyelids. By doing this, the oils will be forced out of the tiny eyelid glands. Please do not touch the inner part of the eyelid during the massage.

Clean

Get fresh cotton buds and use them to clean crusts that are found on the eyelids, especially around the roots of the eyelashes. Depending on what's comfortable for you, there are eyelid wipes and cleaning foam that can do an excellent job of cleaning your eyelids.

Repeat the procedure

Endeavour to keep up this practice once a day. Also, the inside of your eyelids should not be cleaned or rubbed. This can worsen the inflammation. You should stop the use of face makeup if your eyelids are inflamed. Makeup consists of applying powders and other face products to your eyes and face. Since you will be cleansing, massaging, and cleaning off every particle around your eyelids, makeup will add more particles and as such should be avoided in the interim until you feel better.

Other treatments options that may work:

There may be other forms of treatment that may assist in the control of blepharitis. They include the following:

Antibiotic Ointment

To treat blepharitis, you may get doctor-prescribed antibiotic ointment.

When you have cleaned your lashes following the instructions given above, rub some antibiotic ointment on the tip of your finger (ensure it's clean!), or a fresh cotton bud and apply it to the upper and lower roots of your eyelashes before sleeping at night. Do this every night for two weeks, then two times a week for a period of 10 weeks.

Steroid Eyedrops

Though not all the time, a course of steroid eyedrops can be used to treat blepharitis.

Flaxseed or Omega 3 Oil Capsules

The symptoms of eyelid inflammation can be treated with omega oils as this helps to improve the oil quality from the glands. In turn, this keeps tears from evaporating. You can get these medications over the counter without any prescription. Just take one capsule each with breakfast and dinner.

Oral Antibiotic Tablets

Your doctor may prescribe a course of oral antibiotic tablets for some months to treat some forms of blepharitis. You will be instructed on the dosage by your doctor. It may be advised that you take one Doxycycline 100mg tablet two times a day for the first two weeks, and after that, you will have to take it once a day. Do not take these medications on an empty stomach. The doctor’s recommendations may vary.

Artificial Tears

Blepharitis can bring about dry eyes, and this can be corrected using artificial tears.

Consult your doctor to know which kind of treatment will be suitable for your condition.

Remember that you can always discuss treatment options for blepharitis should you be experiencing any kind of pain or inflammation of the eyelid. 

Why Is Our Eyelid Inflammation Treatment Most Sought After?

So many eye clinics offer great treatments, but ours is unique because:

We offer customised eye care

Our patients' needs come first! We have your best interest at heart and as such, provide specific quality treatment according to your condition. This means you will get the right solution for your visual problem after in-depth and thorough diagnostic testing and bespoke examination.

We have professional eye doctors at our practice

Our carefully selected surgeons are the finest in the country and famous in the world for their incredible skill and expertise. We have recorded thousands of successfully completed surgeries and still counting. Plus, our treatment is safe and precise, which is why the doctors and anaesthetists we've treated recommend us to their family and friends. At Optimal Vision, we have maintained an unparalleled level of excellence in eye care, and it has not been compromised.

We've invested in highly advanced technology

Treating eye problems is not an easy task; expertise and experience are required for significant results. This is why we have spent a lot of time and money to get all the essential and high-end modern technology in the industry. We are not restricted to one manufacturer or company - we pick the best eyecare products from any one of them to satisfy our patients' individual visual needs.

We are trustworthy and reliable

Eyecare requires that patients are comfortable with services offered to them and can depend on their team of caregivers. This is precisely what we provide! Our methods are straightforward, and we work closely with patients giving useful advice and ensuring their needs are met with tried-and-tested treatment options. In our practice we are very friendly and our staff are ready to provide you with all the support you need throughout your treatment.

In Conclusion

Professional eye care is vital in achieving the best results. Feel free to ask us any questions regarding blepharitis and how it can be treated. Our surgeons are very compassionate and understanding. They will give you all the answers for better comprehension plus useful advice and tips on how to care for your eyes.

Anytime you think of eye care services, think of Optimal Vision. We are always happy to help you on your journey to having better vision.