Blepharitis Treatment

Blepharitis is one of the common eye conditions, that is characterized by inflammation of the eyelids, along with itching, redness and irritation in the area. It is one of the most common eye problems, that can affect people of any age, but, is more common in elderly. In general, this condition is caused by the malfunctioning of the oil glands located at the base of eyelashes. There are two types of blepharitis - anterior and posterior. In case of anterior blepharitis, the base of the eyelashes gets affected, whereas in posterior blepharitis, the meibomian glands, that are located in the eyelids (behind the base of the eyelashes) are affected. Anterior type have staphylococcal and seborrheic variants. Even though, blepharitis does not cause permanent damage to eyesight, it is very difficult to cure this condition and the treatment is mainly aimed to control it.

Causes and Symptoms

Blepharitis is often associated with other medical conditions like rosacea, seborrheic dermatitis, trichiasis, conjunctivitis, chalazion and keratitis. While systemic diseases like rosacea can cause this condition, allergies and environmental conditions, can also result in this eye problem. It can also be associated with bacterial infection and eyelash mites. Symptoms include inflammation of the eyelids, itching and irritation. The affected person may experience crusting of the lashes, watering, redness, sensitivity to light, gluing of eyelashes, pain, foreign body sensation and burning. Blepharitis is considered as a chronic condition, that cannot be cured, but can be treated and controlled.

Treatment

As eyelid inflammation can be caused by various factors, a careful examination of the eyes and eyelids is done by the ophthalmologist, so as to get the condition diagnosed. The medical history of the patient is also taken into consideration. Diagnosis is done with the help of slit lamp, that is used for examining the eyes. In some cases, the doctor may collect a sample of the oil or crust that is formed on the eyelid, so as to determine the presence of bacteria or fungi. If the condition is suspected to be caused by a systemic disease, then, a complete evaluation may be required. Once the person is diagnosed with blepharitis, then, the course of treatment is decided, as per the cause of the condition. However, good eyelid hygiene is one of the basic requirements for controlling blepharitis. The eyelids have to be kept free of crusts. This is achieved by loosening the crusts with warm compresses and removing them with cotton swabs dipped in diluted baby shampoo solution.

Apart from keeping the eyelids clean, medication are required in some cases. Medicines are determined according to the nature of blepharitis. In case of bacterial infection, topical application of antibiotics is recommended. In some cases, oral antibiotics are also given. Sometimes, steroids may be prescribed along with other medicines, so as to reduce the inflammation. In case of dry eyes, artificial tears are used. In case of fungal infection, anti fungal medications are used and if the cause is allergy, then, ocular antihistamines are prescribed. If the condition is caused by some underlying diseases like rosacea or seborrheic dermatitis,the symptoms can be controlled by treating the underlying diseases. Even after successful treatments, blepharitis may recur. Flaxseed oil is claimed to be an effective natural treatment, especially for posterior blepharitis. However, there is no scientific backing for this claim.

Even though, there is no cure for blepharitis, good eyelid hygiene, along with relevant treatment will be sufficient to control the condition. However, self medication should be strictly avoided.