Blepharitis

Blocked glands in the eyelid margin. Persistent, but well controlled with daily care.

In short

In blepharitis the oil glands in the eyelid margin become blocked and inflamed.
You notice red, flaky eyelid margins, sticky lids and burning eyes, often together with dry eyes.
It does not go away with one course of treatment, but it can be well controlled.
You do the treatment yourself every day: warmth, massage and cleaning the eyelid margin.
Expect about six weeks before you notice improvement. Do not stop too early.

An inflamed, red eyelid margin in blepharitis clubtable — public domain. Via Wikimedia Commons.

Symptoms

Red, swollen eyelid margins
Crusts or flakes between the lashes, especially in the morning
Burning feeling and the sense that something is in the eye
Often together with dry eyes; comes back in periods

How it develops

The glands in the eyelid margin produce too much or too thick oil, and bacteria on the lid margin play a role. It is often linked to skin conditions such as rosacea or seborrhoeic eczema, and it is chronic.

Treatment

Daily eyelid hygiene is the core: warm compress, gentle massage, cleaning the lid margin.
Artificial tears for the accompanying dryness.
Sometimes an antibiotic ointment on the eyelid margin.
If you have skin rosacea, treating it helps too.
Ongoing care works better than occasional courses.

When to get help the same day

Contact your GP or the out-of-hours GP service (huisartsenpost) straight away if you have:

A painful, rapidly growing swelling of the whole eyelid
Redness spreading over the skin around the eye, with fever
Reduced vision or double vision
A sore on the eyelid margin that does not heal or keeps returning in the same place

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This page is a short summary and does not replace a consultation. Want to know how the eye works? See The eye.