Blepharitis is a common eye condition that causes red, irritated, often itchy, burning and or gritty feeling in our eyes. Many people also experience excessive watery eyes.
Blepharitis is caused by our own body’s good bacteria overgrowing, leading to scales or flakes on our eyelids and eye lashes. These scales cause inflammation inside our tiny glands that line our eyelids. The purpose of these tiny, pinhole, like glands around our eyelids, is to produce and secrete the oils and mucus our eyes need for healthy robust tears. Without healthy oils and mucus in our tears, our eyes get dry, and prickly feeling, and our tears can actually become drippy and eyes become watery. It is important to note, blepharitis is not contagious, nor does it typically lead to permanent vision damage.
Treatment for blepharitis includes 3 steps, preformed twice a day for 30 days, the just once a day for the next several months:
- Place a warm compress across your closed eye lids for 3-5 minutes. Making sure the compress is as warm as you can handle without burning yourself.
- With clean hands, gently wash your eyelids and lashing using a small amount of Johnson’s Baby Shampoo, working it into a lather then rinsing it away. OR by using an Ocusoft Lid Scrub, a commercially prepared pre-moistened towelette, available to purchase over the counter at any pharmacy.
- Use 1 drop of an artificial tear, in each eye, 3 x daily. Preferred brands, available over the counter at any pharmacy, are Systane, Refresh, or Blink.
