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Blepharitis
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A chalazion, or "stye"
occurs when a meibomian gland becomes
clogged and inflamed.
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Blepharitis is inflammation of the eyelids
which causes irritation, crusting, itching, and occasionally
a red eye. The eyelids are composed of skin on the outside,
mucous membranes on the inside and small oily glands at
the eyelid margins. Blepharitis can be acute and may continue
throughout life as a chronic or recurrent condition. Seborrheic
blepharitis is one form of this condition characterized
by redness of the lids, scales, and flaking around the eyelashes.
It is often associated with dandruff of the scalp. Blepharitis
is not an infection and it is not contagious. Blepharitis
is also associated with other skin disorders, particularly
acne rosacea.
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Debris and protein build-up at the
base of eyelashes are called "collarettes"
in blepharitis.
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The goal of therapy is to eliminate your
symptoms. In the majority of cases this may be accomplished
by a special hygiene program. Once a day, or more frequently
if the doctor specifies, you should do the following three
step routine on both eyes, even if one eyelid is more symptomatic
than the other.
- Take a clean washcloth and hold it under
very warm running tap water until it is as warm as your
lids can comfortably tolerate. Wring it out, fold it lengthwise
and place it firmly over both closed eyelids. This warm
washcloth should be kept on your eyes for a minimum of
five minutes. It should only be re-warmed as necessary.
The moist heat of the washcloth melts the oils in your
eyelid glands, dilates the eyelids gland's pores, and
loosens the crust on your eyelids.
- After completing step one, place baby
shampoo on the same washcloth and lather it up. With your
eyes closed, scrub all your lids horizontally at the margins
where the lashes grow. Make sure you get the corners.
This removes the oils and the crusts.
- Rinse your eyelids with warm water.
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Meibomian glands are clogged with
oil in blepharitis.
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It is recommended you scrub in the morning
and in the evening when your symptoms are active. In most
patients, symptoms will begin to improve in a week or two
if one scrubs at least once per day.
If shampoo leaves you unusually uncomfortable
or stings too much, or if you feel that you are not responding
to therapy, call your ophthalmologist.
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