Eyelid inflammation (blepharitis) Whakawaikuratanga o te kimokimo
Blepharitis is an inflammation of your eyelid. It is not an infection, and it is not contagious. It is common and may keep coming back as it can be treated but not cured. It will not affect your vision.
Symptoms of blepharitis
The main symptoms of blepharitis are:
- a sharp or gritty pain in your eye, feeling like you have something in your eye
- watery eye
- redness in the white of your eye and around the edges of your eyelids
- crusty eyelids
- sensitivity to light
- a slight sticky discharge from your eyes in the mornings.
Diagnosing blepharitis
There is no specific test for blepharitis. It is diagnosed from your symptoms and how the eyes look.
Treating blepharitis
You can usually manage blepharitis by yourself following the steps below.
Cleaning your eyelids
Use a watered-down, non-irritant shampoo, such as baby shampoo to gently clean your eyelids and eyelashes once a day. To do this:
- mix a small amount of shampoo with warm water
- use a cotton bud to gently wipe across the area of your eyelashes.
You may want to do this while you are in the shower.
If baby shampoo is too irritating, use a one-quarter teaspoon of baking soda in a quarter cup of recently boiled, then cooled, water.
Most optometrists and pharmacies sell commercial eyelid cleaners, which may work better for you.
You can continue cleaning your eyes long term to stop the inflammation coming back as often and to keep your eyes comfortable.
Also try using a warm compress (a warm facecloth or heated wheat bag) held over your closed eye for 1 to 2 minutes a day.
Using lubricant eye drops
If the gritty feeling and irritation does not go away, you can try using lubricant eye drops. You can buy these from your optometrist or a pharmacy.
Use the eye drops when your eye feels irritated. On some days, you may hardly need to use them, but on other days you might have to use them 4 or 5 times.
- If your eye drops contain 'benzalkonium chloride' do not use them more than 4 times a day. This is found in many non-prescription eye drops and can make the irritation worse.
- Do not use decongestant drops regularly, as they will cause redness and irritation.
Including omega-3 in your diet
Including more omega-3 fatty acids in your diet can help to treat blepharitis by:
- reducing inflammation
- improving the secretions your eyelid glands produce.
The best sources of omega-3 in your diet are oily fish such as salmon, tuna, mackerel and sardines. Plant sources of omega-3, such as walnuts, linseed, flax oil and canola oil, may not have as strong an effect.
Other treatments
If you have tried these steps and your symptoms do not get any better, see your healthcare provider or optometrist. They may prescribe an antibiotic gel to use on your eyelid daily.
Sometimes they will prescribe an antibiotic tablet for up to 3 months.
An optometrist or a doctor who specialises in eye care (an ophthalmologist), may also suggest other treatments, including LipiFlow or intense pulsed light (IPL).