BLEPHARITIS

Do you think you could have signs of blepharitis? You might be experiencing symptoms such as red-rimmed, sore-looking eyes or watery, heavy or gritty eyes that can feel tired and more sensitive to light. In some cases you might have skin debris around the lashes. If you think you have Blepharitis we would always recommend you see an eye care professional who will be able to diagnose and support you.

What is Blepharitis?

Blepharitis can be a chronic eye condition which causes inflammation in and around the eyelids and typically needs to be managed to prevent flare-ups. It usually affects both eyes and can involve the skin area around the eyelashes, the area around the oil-producing Meibomian glands, or both. Although blepharitis is often wrongly mistaken as an eye infection, it can coexist alongside other eye infections. Blepharitis is also the most common trigger of dry eye symptoms.

Types of Blepharitis

There are two types of blepharitis depending on where the inflammation is found on the eyelid. While some may only experience one type of blepharitis, more commonly people tend to experience both types together.

1. Anterior blepharitis

This type occurs when the margin of your eyelid, where the eyelashes come out of your lids, becomes inflamed and has a red appearance. You might also find dandruff-like crusts on your lashes.

2. Posterior blepharitis

Posterior blepharitis happens when the oil-producing Meibomian glands in the eyelids become blocked. The oil produced by these glands helps to maintain hydration of your eye surface. So, when the quality and the quantity of the oil is disturbed, it may cause dry eyes with a feeling of dryness, grittiness or tiredness in both eyes.¹

How common is blepharitis?

Blepharitis is a very common finding in the population. As you age it can become more common. Your likelihood of having blepharitis can also increase if you already have some skin conditions such as rosacea or eczema. But for most sufferers, it has no real cause, in a similar way to scalp dandruff.

Am I at risk of blepharitis?

Sometimes, people with dry or sensitive skin conditions are more likely to develop blepharitis. You may also be more likely to develop blepharitis² if:

You have an existing skin condition such as eczema, rosacea and some forms of dermatitis.
You wear contact lenses.
You are regularly exposed to dry or dusty environments.
You don’t follow a good face and eyelid cleansing routine.
You regularly don’t remove make-up.
You are over 55.³

If you think you may have signs of Blepharitis we recommend you seek the advice of your local eye care professional.

If you require eye surgery, such as for cataracts, it is essential to manage blepharitis as it is the most common reason to have your cataract surgery cancelled.

Did you Know?

Up to 86% of people with dry eye symptoms are related to having Blepharitis.⁴

Common conditions related to blepharitis

If blepharitis is left untreated, it can lead to several problems including dry eye, styes and chalazia. Dry eye happens when the eyes are unable to produce enough tears or retain tears on the surface of the eye owing to insufficient oils in the tears, leading to symptoms like itchiness, redness, grittiness and irritation. Styes are painful pimples which form on the edge or inside of the eyelid. Chalazia are similar to styes, although these are non-painful lumps that form when an oil gland is blocked such as with posterior blepharitis. They can be recognised as a large eyelid bump on your eyelid.⁵

Learn more about blepharitis

Want to find out more about blepharitis? Whether you’re looking for common symptoms and causes or ways to manage this eye condition, we’ve covered everything you need to know in the pages below.

BLEPHARITIS SYMPTOMS

BLEPHARITIS CAUSES

MANAGE BLEPHARITIS

Blepharitis FAQs

Is blepharitis contagious?

While blepharitis can leave you with uncomfortable-feeling eyes, the good news is that it isn’t contagious and doesn’t usually cause lasting damage to the eyes. The best and easiest way to manage blepharitis is to cleanse your eyelids regularly and keep them crust-free. Because blepharitis is a long-lasting condition, it usually won’t go away completely, but you can take steps to manage your symptoms.

How long does blepharitis last?

With so many different possible causes for blepharitis, it can be difficult to predict how long you may experience symptoms for. If your blepharitis is caused by an infection, seek advice from an eye care professional. They may prescribe an antibiotic treatment for you that can improve your symptoms within just a few days. For most people, blepharitis may require a daily eye health routine to help ongoing management with symptoms coming and going continuously throughout their life. Flare-ups can become less often and severe, but they can’t be fully avoided, which is why learning how to effectively follow an eye health routine can make a huge difference to your daily life.

What is the difference between blepharitis and a stye?

Both blepharitis and styes result in inflammation of the eyelid. But this is where the similarities end. Where they differ is how they look and feel, and their cause. Blepharitis usually affects both eyes and can cause discomfort and may persist over a longer period of time. You may notice crusty eyelids and redness around the edge of the eyelid. Styes however usually only affect one eye at a time and can be quite tender and uncomfortable. If you have a stye, you may see a white pimple at the edge of the eyelid. They happen when the eyelash follicles or the meibomian glands are infected by bacteria and tend to be short-lived. (Source: Hordeolum - College of Optometrists)

Can blepharitis cause blurry vision?

Blurry vision is not typically something you might experience when suffering from blepharitis. Although it may affect vision for some sufferers that also have dry eye, because it causes problems with the balance of the components on the eye surface. When the eye surface is not smooth, clear and healthy, this can temporarily blur your vision. (Source: Blepharitis (Lid Margin Disease) - College of Optometrists)

Can I use baby shampoo for blepharitis?

Although baby shampoo can seem like a good way to clean the eyelids when dealing with blepharitis, we advise against this. Baby shampoos should not be used around the eyes because they may cause further irritation instead of soothing the area affected by blepharitis. An preservative-free eyelid cleanser, dedicated for this sensitive area and skin, may be a more suitable solution in this case (Reference: TFOS DEWS II). Speak to your pharmacist or eye care professional who can advise on the best products for managing your condition.

Products to manage Blepharitis

Try our recommended products below to help manage any discomfort or irritation caused by blepharitis, including suitable cleansing products.

References:
1. The College of Optometrists
2. Lemp MA, Crews LA, Bron AJ, Foulks GN, Sullivan BD. Distribution of aqueous-deficient and evaporative dry eye in a clinic-based patient cohort: a retrospective study. Cornea. 2012 May;31(5):472-8.
3. The College of Optometrists
4. Lemp MA, Crews LA, Bron AJ, Foulks GN, Sullivan BD. Distribution of aqueous-deficient and evaporative dry eye in a clinic-based patient cohort: a retrospective study. Cornea. 2012 May;31(5):472-8.
5. The College of Optometrists

Expert eye Care Guaranteed

Théa is a company dedicated to eye care and to supporting the education of professionals involved in all aspects of eye health.

We are uncompromising in our approach to developing the best eye care solutions that won’t damage or irritate eyes.

Find your nearest thea eye care professional

SEARCH NOW