If your eyelid
rims are red and irritated, if they burn and itch or if you've noticed
an oily discharge or scaly skin around them, you may have an
inflammatory problem called blepharitis. Some people describe it as
"psoriasis of the eyelids".
Blepharitis may be either of two main types or a combination of them:
Seborrheic blepharitis
Characterized
by an excessive discharge of oil/grease from the skin around the
eyelids. It is usually accompanied by similarly greasy hair and skin.
Staphylococcal blepharitis
A bacterial infection. It is more likely to result in infective eyelid conditions, such as styes.
What are the treatments?
To treat
seborrheic blepharitis, keep the lid edges and surrounding skin clean
by regularly scrubbing the area with baby shampoo. Medicated pads
specifically designed for this are also available. For staphylococcal
blepharitis, ointments containing antibiotics may be prescribed to
be applied to the edges of the eyelids. Your Doctor of Optometry can evaluate any red eye condition and treat it appropriately.
