Blepharitis

Facts

• Common condition that causes inflammation of the eye lids and can affect people of all ages.
• It usually affects the rim of the eyelids of both eyes and usually is not serious but still irritating and uncomfortable.
• Eyelids may become crusty and scaly and eyes may feel gritty and very tired with increasing irritation when outdoors in sunshine or around any polluted or smoke filled environment.
• Can be associated with skin conditions such as rosacea and eye conditions like conjunctivitis.
• The symptoms can re-occur at any time but home treatment can calm the symptoms and eyesight is generally not affected.

Treatment

You might be prescribed a combination of treatments described below depending on the type of blepharitis: anterior or posterior.

Cleaning of the lid margin

Dip a clean cotton bud in the solution* and clean away any crusts present on the eyelashes. A mirror may be helpful. Do not clean inside the eyelids as this will make them sore. Repeat the process twice a day.
Wipe along the Lid Margin

*Solution

• Bicarbonate of soda
• Baby shampoo solution
• Normal saline
  Use the antibiotic
• Hot compresses
  Soak a clean gauze in boiled water and hold it on your lids with your eyes closed, for 5 minutes twice a day, being careful that the temperature is not too hot.
• Lid massage
  Roll your finger/cotton bud towards the margin 10 times each for the top and bottom lid, twice a day.
• Antibiotic drops
  Apply as directed by pulling the lower lid off the eyeball and letting the drop fall into the pocket without touching the lid.
• Antibiotic ointment
  Apply as directed, by squeezing 1 cm out of the tube onto your index finger and rubbing it onto the lid margin. It is very important that you follow the instructions in the order shown above.

Top lid, roll downwards
Bottom lid, roll upwards
You must be careful not to touch the eyeball with the cotton bud.