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Blepharitis: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

Blepharitis is a common eye condition that causes inflammation of the eyelids. Learn about its symptoms, causes, and treatment options in this article.

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Blepharitis is an eye condition that affects people worldwide. It is characterized by inflammation of the eyelids, causing redness, itching, irritation, and flaky or crusty eyelids. Various factors, including bacterial or fungal infections, allergies, or underlying skin conditions, can cause blepharitis.Batching the eyes, applying warm compresses, and using eye drops can relieve the pain caused by redness and swelling in the eyelids. The range of treatments available for blepharitis ranges from home remedies to medical treatment. Scroll down to read blepharitis causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. 

What is blepharitis?

Blepharitis is a condition of the eyes that affects the area around the base of the eyelashes and can also cause swelling around the eyelashes. The underlying causes of chronic blepharitis are well understood and are not caused by poor hygiene. The many apparent signs can be redness and sickness in the eyelids with clumping of scaly skin around the base of her eyelashes. Treatments can aim at relieving the symptoms but cannot cure the condition. Oral Medications can also help in blepharitis treatment.

What are the Causes of blepharitis?

Causes of blepharitisThere can be many causes of blepharitis that can be combined with the following inflammatory reactions that can make the condition worse; blepharitis can result in inflammation of the bacteria that usually live on the eyelids.
  • Parasites like Demodex and herpes simplex viruses.
  • People with dandruff are likely to develop blepharitis which can help keep the dandruff under control and can help in reducing the symptoms.
  • Another possible cause of blepharitis can be that the meibomian glands on the eyelids can be associated with the dysfunction of this gland. 
  • These glands can produce oily substances that can be present on the eye film of the tears from evaporating. 
  • Regular touching of the eyes, even when you are outside, can cause infections to spread. If you have the habit of touching your face, then it can affect your face as well.

What are the symptoms of blepharitis?

There can be many symptoms of blepharitis like-
  • The distinguished symptoms of blepharitis are frequent watering in the eyes
  • Redness in both eyes due to infections
  • Oily particles sticking to the eyelids
  • Stinging sensation with significant discomfort in the eyes.
  • Itching and swelling of eyelids
  • Increased sensitivity of the eyes to the light
  • Rapid falling of eyelashes hair

How to diagnose blepharitis?

The doctor diagnoses blepharitis, or the ophthalmologist, will examine the patient's eyes and eyelids using magnifying instruments to look at irregular bulges or rednesses. Moreover, in cases of any oil secretions that can be present, the healthcare providers collect a sample present using a swab to determine if microbial contamination. Once blepharitis is diagnosed with minimal swelling, the doctor suggests routinely keeping the applied warm compress to soothe the redness and washing the eyes with warm to lukewarm water. 

What are the complications of blepharitis?

Blepharitis would lead to complications if not addressed promptly. Some of the complications that can be - Problems related to eyelashes - Longer-term blepharitis treatment can cause scarring of the eyelids, and the edges may turn inward or outward.Abnormal oil secretion - There can be an abnormal secretion of oil and other waste shed from eyelids, like flaking and dandruff, can get accumulated in tear film and oil and mucus solution that form tears. This interface can keep your eyelids moist and irritate the eyes, resulting in dry eyes.Style - Style can be another complication of blepharitis, can bear the eyelashes that lead to painful lumps,  and this style can be visible on the surface of the eyelids.Chalazion - A chalazion can also be developed when there is a blockage in the small oil glands at the margins of the eyelids. This causes inflammation of the gland and can make the eyelids swell and redden and blepharitis and also cause chronic pink eye, which can increase the risk of recurrent bouts of pink eye or conjunctivitis.Irritation in the eye - Chronic irritation from the inflamed eyelids can cause soreness on your cornea and can have adequate tears, increasing the risk of corneal infection. If the instances of blepharitis from the inflamed eyelids can cause soreness to develop on the cornea and can have an adequate. For redness, flaking, and doily discharge, the doctor can prescribe oral medication to fight the infections and tropical steroidal eye drops or ointments to control the inflammation.

What are the treatments of blepharitis?

The treatment of blepharitis can be from medical to home remedies. This condition can usually be treated with surgical procedures like-
  • Electrochemistry is margin debridement that can remove the same bacteria and the biofilm created from the eyelids and open any clogged gland in the eyelids.
  • Thermal pulsation treatment can be melted from any materials obstructing the glands.
  • Intense pulsed light therapy can be clogged eyelid glands. Sometimes some severe cases of blepharitis also require oral medication that can help prevent the infection from spreading.

What are the home remedies for blepharitis treatments?

home remedies for blepharitis treatmentsThe treatment for blepharitis typically aims at relieving the inflammation and the cause of the condition. Some common medications and processes that can help are 
  1. Eyelid Hygiene: The eyelids require to be clean at all times. There must be no eyelid buildup at any time in the eyes.
  2. Warm Compresses: If you want to get quick relief from pain, then warm compresses can also help
  3. Topical Antibiotics: there are oral medications that can help relieve the condition of tropical antibiotics.
  4. Topical Steroids: Again, steroids are the medication that can help deal with the steroid.
  5. Lubricating Eye Drops: Using eye drops can help treat blepharitis.

How to prevent the eyes from getting blepharitis?

There are different ways of preventing the eyes from getting blepharitis.
  • Eyelid hydrants are essential for treating both types of blepharitis, and they can be continued even when the symptoms have improved. 
  • Self-care can be essential to treatment and management of blepharitis. 
  • This cannot be cured, but the treatment can successfully manage the symptoms. In addition, in this treatment, these people with eyelid inflammation can avoid using cosmetics, eyeliners, mascara, and makeup around the eyes.
  • Warm compresses can help in seeding the crust formed due to infections around the eye.
  • Eyelid cleaning can remove the crust, and massages the small oil gland in the eyelids.

Conclusion -

Blepharitis treatment is a condition of the eyelids that bacterial infections of Demodex or eye mites can cause. This can be caused by the presence of the mite in the eyelashes that start eating the surface of the eyes, and that can be related to an increase in the itchiness, redness and flakiness in the eyes. The redness and swelling can become a problem when they start eating more dead skin on the eyelashes than required. Blenpheretitis can be removed by simply cleaning the eyelids with baby shampoo and oil. The redness will be reduced in the eyes with oral medications. Also, in case you are still not getting any relief, you should contact an ophthalmologist to deal with the blepharitis treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is blepharitis diagnosable?

Blepharitis can be diagnosed during eye eczema and can help remove the bacteria or Demodex mites in front of the eyes.

What are blepharitis and other symptoms?

Blepharitis can be pronounced as inflammation of the eyelid.

What is the best treatment for blepharitis at home?

Home treatment for blepharitis can be warm compressing and scrubbing the eyelids with baby shampoo.

What are the different types of blepharitis?

The three main types of blepharitis can be seborrheic ulcerative and Demodex.

What bacteria can cause blepharitis?

Staphylococcus blepharitis can be caused by bacteria called staphylococcus, commonly known as staph.