What is it?
Blepharitis is inflammation (pain, heat and swelling) of the eyelids. It usually affects both eyes. Although it feels uncomfortable, it does not cause loss of sight. Blepharitis tends to recur, but you can prevent it.
What are the symptoms?
If you have blepharitis, you might:
- Feel that something is in your eye.
- Have itchy or burning eyes and eyelids.
- Find the edge of your eyelids are red.
- Have watery eyes.
- Be sensitive to light.
- Have crusty or sticky eyelashes, especially in the morning.
- Diminished vision.
- Eye redness.
- Pain in eye.
- Swollen eye.
- Spots or clouds in vision.
- Eyelid swelling.
- White discharge from eye.
- Eye burns or stings.
- Eyelid lesion or rash.
What to expect?
Often treatment can be done by self-care measures. You can try the following things:
- Apply a warm compress over your closed eye for several minutes to loosen the crusty deposits on your eyelids. Immediately afterward, use a washcloth moistened with warm water and a few drops of diluted baby shampoo to wash away any oily debris Use a different clean cloth for each eye. Gently pull your eyelid away from your eye and use the washcloth to gently rub the base of the lashes. This helps avoid damaging your cornea with the washcloth.
- Ask your doctor whether you should use a topical antibiotic ointment after cleaning your eyelids in this way.
- Rinse your eyelids with warm water and gently pat it dry with a clean, dry towel.
- Avoid touching your eyes with dirty hands.