Blepharitis

Blepharitis is an eruption producing inflammationof eyelidsand eyelashes. It is characterized by white flaky skinnear the eyelashes. Blepharitis usually causes redness of the eyesand itchingand irritationof the eyelids.

There are two types. One, anterior blepharitis affects the front of the eyelids near the eyelashes. The causes are seborrheic dermatitis(similar to dandruff) and occasional infection by Staphylococcusbacteria. Two, posterior blepharitis affects the back of the eyelids, the part that makes contact with the eyes. This is caused by the oil glands present in this region

Staphylococcal blepharitis

Staphlycoccal blepharitis is a type of external eye inflammation. As with dandruff, it is usually asymptomatic until the disease progresses. As it progresses, the sufferer begins to notice a foreign bodysensation, mattering of the lashes, and burning. Usually, the primary carephysicianwill prescribetopical antibioticsfor staphylococcal blepharitis.

Seborrheic blepharitis

Seborrheic blepharitis, the inherited most common type of blepharitis, is usually one part of the spectrum of seborrheic dermatitis seborrheawhich involves the scalp, lashes, eyebrows, nasolabial folds and ears. Treatment is best accomplished by a dermatologist.

Treatment and management

There is generally no cure for blepharitis, but it can be controlled by maintaining regular eyelid hygiene. Application of a damp warm cloth on the eyes helps unblock the Meibomian glandsand this should be followed by firm massage of the eyelids with diluted baby shampoo, which acts as a mild cleaning agent.^{[{{fullurl:Template:FULLPAGENAME}}#endnote_moorfield]} Antibioticdrops or ointments are prescribed in severe cases.

Dermatologists treat blepharitis similarly to seborrheic dermatitis by using safe topical anti-inflammatory medication like sulfacetamide or brief courses of a mild topical steroid.

See also

• List of skin diseases
• List of eye diseases and disorders

External links

• Blepharitis description from the American Optometric Association
• eMedicine Health: Eyelid Inflammation (Blepharitis)
• American Academy of Dermatology
• American Academy of Opthalmology

References

1. ^  Moorfields eye hospital(UK) Patient information leaflet: Blepharitis - Lid Hygiene Advice For Patients

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
It uses material from the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blepharitis Wikipedia article Blepharitis.