Blepharitis is inflammation of the eyelids. It is one of the most common eye diseases, and causes discomfort in the eye, redness and tearing. Blepharitis is a difficulty to disease to treat, as it tends to recur.
What is inflammation?
Inflammation is a response by the body’s immune system to irritation or infection. It results in the tissue becoming red, swollen, warm and painful. If the inflammation is severe enough, it can affect the functioning of the tissue.
What exactly are the eyelids?
The eyelids are a thin fold of skin and muscle that cover the front of the eyes. The function of the eyelids is to protect the eye. On the eyelid, there are small hairs called eyelashes; the function of the eyelashes is to protect the eye from dust and debris.
Diagram showing the location of the eyelids on a patient. This patient does not have blepharitis.
What are the symptoms of blepharitis?
There are many symptoms that can occur with blepharitis. Some of these include:
• Red and swollen eyelids • Tearing • Swelling of the eyelids • Itching • Sensitivity to light (this is called photophobia) • Blurred vision • Crusting of the eyelashes (this is usually worse in the morning) • A dry eye sensation
What are the different types of blepharitis?
There are two types of blepharitis: anterior blepharitis and posterior blepharitis. Anterior blepharitis is inflammation on the front of the eyelid, whereas posterior blepharitis mainly involves inflammation of the back of the eyelid.
Can you tell me more about anterior blepharitis?
Anterior blepharitis mainly involves inflammation of the front of the eyelids, especially near where the eyelashes are attached. The two most common causes of anterior blepharitis are bacteria infection (from staphylococcus bacteria) and scalp dandruff.
Can you tell me more about posterior blepharitis?
Posterior blepharitis involves inflammation on the back of the eyelids. This is usually caused by problems with the meibomian glands. The meibomian glands are small structures that produce an oily substance (which is part of the tear film) that protects the eye from dryness.
Sometimes, these meibomian glands can become blocked, leading to infection and inflammation of the eyelids. An infected meibomian gland can also result in a red, swollen lump on the eyelids called a stye.
Diagram showing a patient's eye with an inflammed eyelid. The red, swollen lump is due to an infected meibomian gland, a stye.
How is blepharitis treated?
The first step in the treatment of blepharitis is to control the inflammation that is occurring. This is usually done with warm compresses. Warm compresses help by opening the meibomian glands, as well as by softening any accumulated crusts on the eyelashes, so they can be easily removed.
If this isn’t enough, sometimes eye drops that contain anti-inflammatory or antibiotic drugs can be prescribed. Unfortunately, blepharitis tends to recur. Because of this, patients who have had blepharitis must focus on keeping their eyelids clean with warm compresses on a regular basis (daily – like brushing your teeth).
