Blepharitis causes swollen, itchy eyelids. It’s not usually serious but can be uncomfortable. If left untreated it can lead to distortion of the eyelid margin which prevents tears being properly spread across the surface of the eye on blinking. This can cause symptoms or blurring and grittiness.
Symptoms of blepharitis include:
- sore eyelids
- itchy eyes
- a gritty feeling in the eyes
- flakes or crusts around the roots of the eyelashes
- eyelids sticking together in the morning when you wake up.
Blepharitis can be caused by:
- a type of bacteria that lives on the skin
- a skin condition, such as seborrhoeic dermatitis
- the glands inside the eyelids not producing enough oil.
Blepharitis cannot be spread to other people. Blepharitis can often be managed by cleansing your eyelids every day. Historically doctors used to suggest using boiled water and baby shampoo. Today we know that this is very damaging to the tear film and dries out the skin round the eyes, so we suggest cleansing solutions like Blephasol.
Blephasol is an aqueous solution for gentle cleansing of the eyelids and lashes; it is free from soap, perfumes, parabens or alcohol(ethanol) and has been specially formulated to be kind to both skin and eyes through its micellar action.
Blephasol removes debris, impurities and lifts away excess grease without excessive rubbing. It even removes make up.
The Blephasol range includes Blephasol Duo, which includes a pack of lint-free pads for convenience.
Sometimes even once the blepharitis is under control, eyes can remain gritty and uncomfortable, indicating an additional tear film concern.
If you are experiencing anterior eye issues such as dryness or grittiness, our Dry Eye Consultant, Mr Price, may be able to help. During the consultation he will discuss your symptoms and examine your eyes to formulate a plan to improve your tear quality, making your eyes more comfortable, and vision more stable.
To book a consultation with Mr Price, please call the practice on 01270 625889