Blepharitis

Anyone can get blepharitis, at any age. It is more likely if you:

• Have dandruff on your scalp or eyebrows
• Have rosacea, a skin condition that causes redness on the face
• Have oily skin
• Have allergies
• Have dry eye
• Are older, since eyelash mites become more common with age
• Wear eye makeup, especially if you don’t fully remove it at night

Your eye doctor can usually find blepharitis during an eye exam. They will ask about your symptoms and look closely at your eyelids, eyelashes and the openings of the oil glands with a special microscope. They may gently press on the eyelid to see how the oil flows.

They may also check the base of your lashes for signs of mites and see how quickly your tears dry up. A harmless dye can show dry spots on the surface of the eye. Some eye doctors take pictures of the oil glands inside the eyelids. If blepharitis doesn’t get better with treatment, your eye doctor may take a small sample from the eyelid to test.

The most important treatment is keeping your eyelids clean and free of crusts, every day.

A simple daily routine

1. Warm compress. Soak a clean washcloth in warm (not hot) water, wring it out and hold it on your closed eyes for a few minutes. Warm it again when it cools. This softens crusts and loosens thick oil in the glands.
2. Clean the eyelid edges. Gently scrub along the base of your lashes with an eyelid cleanser, or with a mild, tear-free cleanser mixed with warm water. Use a clean cloth or cotton pad for each eye.
3. Rinse with clean, warm water and pat dry.

Your eye doctor may also suggest:

• Artificial tears, to soothe dryness
• Antibiotic eye drops or ointment, or antibiotic pills for a while in some cases
• Steroid eye drops for a short time, to calm a bad flare-up. These need regular checks with your eye doctor.
• Prescription eye drops that treat eyelash mites
• Treatments done at the office that warm and open clogged oil glands, or deep-clean the eyelid edges
• Treatment for a skin condition such as rosacea or dandruff, which can help your eyelids too

Blepharitis usually doesn’t go away for good, but you can keep it under control:

• Keep up your eyelid routine even when your eyes feel better. Symptoms often come back if you stop.
• During a flare-up, do the routine more often.
• Remove all eye makeup before bed. Replace mascara and eyeliner every few months, and don’t share them.
• Try not to rub your eyes.
• Wash your face, hair and eyebrows regularly, and treat dandruff.
• If you wear contact lenses, you may need to stop wearing them during a flare-up.
• Don’t squeeze a stye. Use warm compresses instead, and see your eye doctor if it doesn’t get better.

Let your eye doctor know if your symptoms get worse or don’t improve with your routine.