What is Blepharitis?
Blepharitis is an inflammation of your eyelids or eyelash area. It commonly occurs when tiny oil glands
near the base of the eyelashes become clogged, causing irritation and redness. Several diseases and
conditions can cause blepharitis, and there are two main types:
- Anterior – Found on the outside of the eyelid, including the area where your eyelashes attach.
Primarily caused by bacteria, scalp dandruff, and Demodex mites. - Posterior – Found on the inside of the eyelid, next to your eyeball, and tied to problems with oil (meibomian) glands.
Get Your Eyelids Professionally Cleaned
Just as it’s recommended to have your teeth professionally cleaned every six months to remove plaque and tartar,
patients with anterior blepharitis benefit from having their eyelids professionally cleaned by their eye care doctor.
With a quick in-office visit, our trained professionals will target scurf and bacterial debris—the main cause of eyelid inflammation.
Keeping eyelids healthy and free of debris can prevent long-term eye diseases and promote overall eye health.
Why Should I Consider Eye Exfoliation?
- Approximately 50% of all patients have eyelid symptoms caused by insufficient eyelid hygiene.
- Our in-office eye exfoliation procedure allows us to actively clean your eyelid margins.
- The main cause of eyelid symptoms—excess bacteria, biofilm, and bacterial toxins—are removed by eye exfoliation.
- Regular eye exfoliation helps maintain eyelid hygiene.
- A typical treatment only takes a few minutes.
- It’s an additional option when home remedies (scrubs, baby shampoo, compresses, medications) fail to treat anterior blepharitis.
What Causes Anterior Blepharitis?
The most common causes of anterior blepharitis are bacteria, scalp dandruff, and Demodex mite infestations.
Below are the known causes:
- Bacterial (or sometimes viral) infection
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Staphylococcus epidermidis
- Corynebacterium spp.
- Seborrheic blepharitis
- Poor hygiene
- Allergies
- Cosmetic makeup
- Advanced age
- Demodex mite infestations
If left untreated, anterior blepharitis can cause thickened, inward- or outward-turned eyelids and even vision problems that may damage your cornea.
Ignoring the condition can also lead to more serious complications such as blurred vision, missing or misdirected eyelashes,
and inflammation of other eye tissue—particularly the cornea.
Antibiotics applied to the eyelid have been shown to provide relief from symptoms and resolve bacterial infection.
These may come as eyedrops, creams, or ointments. If topical antibiotics are not effective, your doctor might prescribe an oral antibiotic.
References
- Vision Source – Eye Conditions
- American Optometric Association – Glossary of Eye and Vision Conditions