Blepharitis

Question: Blepharitis? I am 22 and am pretty sure that I am in the early stages of Blepharitis. Is this possible, as I know that usually it is uncommon at such a young age.

Answer: Blepharitis is not entirely an age-related condition, and it doesn't progress through stages. It can be caused by several different things - some causes are treatable and some can only be controlled. Its possible that you you just have an ordinary infection that has symptoms similar to blepharitis. Its a good idea to visit a doc to find out whats going on.

Question: Is blepharitis contagious and is a person considered disabled when having this condition? I was diagnosed with blepharitis from a local er doctor. Apparently Ive had this for 2-3 years now and thought it was a permanent case of "pink eye". Don't know much about the disease just that it very much impairs my vision constantly. Any advice for one without medical insurance?

Answer: I can't seem to find out a definitive answer about whether or not it is contagious. I would say probably not (dependent on cause) or it would say so at Mayo Clinic website that I linked below. I had it when I was in the Air Force. Used to wake up with my eyelids stuck together and it was no fun. In my case it appeared that it was mostly related to allergies as I have not had any problems in the 25 years plus since. Carefully read the description and recommendations provided in the link below to the Mayo Clinic. Go to see your primary care doctor and he/she will refer you to an ophthalmologist if warranted medically. I remember using antibiotic drops and an ointment to clear it up. Though rare there are potential vision complications. Get it checked and addressed soon. Best of luck.

Question: Who should I see about blepharitis and irritation from contacts? I am planning to see an eye doctor about a few different minor problems, as well as a routine exam and new prescription. I have had a continuous problem with possibly blepharitis and tiny bumps on my eyelids. Should I start off with an optometrist, or would an ophthalmologist know more about this? Last time I went to an optometrist he didn't help me much to solve my contact irritation problem. But maybe I just need a better one. I do not have insurance, so I'd like to just go to one or the other, not both. I do not have insurance at all, so I don't have a regular doctor right now. Will an ophthalmologist see you without a referral?

Answer: I got pink eye (conjunctivitis) about 3 years ago but it seemed to never completely go away. Turns out I had blepharitis (in both eyes) and the doctor said it never goes away and I'd have to "wash my eyelids" every day forever. I thought she was crazy. I tried the baby shampoo with Q-tips, even bought the Occusoft, neither one of which worked. Then I was at my eco-crazy sister's place and she had this face wash that smells funny but I needed to wash my face. I woke up the next morning and opened my eyes without feeling like there was sand in them for the first time in 2 years. It's called Thoroughly Clean Face Wash (with Organic Tea Tree Oil and Awapuhi) and it's made by Desert Essence. You can get it at Trader Joe's or online. I've been using it for over a year and the only flare-up I've had since is when I ran out of it and used regular soap again. My eyes are never red anymore AND I WEAR CONTACTS. Try it! and Good Luck!

Question: Is Blepharitis caused by food alergies or any other kind of allergies? My son for the past 5 months has been getting really bad blepharitis on-and-off on just his right eye. It's usually the upper eyelid but right now it's the bottom. He washes his face and eyes daily but still manages to get it. We are all starting to wonder if this is a food allergy or if this is an allergy from pollution or someting outside like flowers. Anyone know? Thanks.

Answer: Blepharitis is usually caused by a bacterial infection, rosacea, dermatitis and malfunctioning oil glands, AS WELL AS allergies. So, you could be right. Try using a baby shampoo to wash his eyelids and eyelashes several times a day, as this is the usual treatment and maybe have your doctor do an allergy test to determine if he has allergies to certain things. If you think he has obvious allergies, then maybe treatment is necessary. Hope this was helpful.

Question: How do I get rid of this blepharitis that i have been dealing with for years? I have had blepharitis since 7th grade(now im in 11th) and want to try and see if anyone has any ideas that could help me. I get dry skin and redness around my eyelids. The skin drys up right on the tip of the eyelid closest to the eye(right where the eyelashes go in to the eyelid) Sometimes ill pick it off and i'll just get redness. If any educated person could help me out it would be so awesome!

Answer: Have you seen an ophthalmologist? Are you sure that is what it is? I think you may need an antibiotic for that. You could also try the following: Wipe the insides of each lid with a mixture of water and baby shampoo on a Q-tip. If this is uncomfortable, you can just use water w/o the shampoo. Do this 2-3 times a day. You should feel better fairly soon. You may also have something called "ocular rosacea".

Question: Question for those who have blepharitis and wear contacts? I have blepharitis and because of it I see double and halos and glare with contacts. Does anyone else have this problem? I heard that people with blepharitis can't wear contacts because they hurt but that is not the case for me, I just have double vision. I wear contacts anyway because I look better in contacts than glasses. What do you guys do to treat your blepharitis? Are you able to wear contacts? What kind of contacts do you wear? I have gone through many many brands and none seem to fix the problem of double vision.

Answer: Blepharitis can stem from a number of causes, but all will cause difficulty wearing contacts. Of course, you'll need to treat the underlying cause of it before contact lens wear will be successful. Initially, blepharitis may need an antibiotic/steriod ointment treatment to get things under control. The run-of-the-mill maintenance treatment (which you may have already done) then consists of lid scrubs, warm towel compresses, and artificial tears. If it's bad enough, Doxycycline oral antibiotics may be a good option for you. Homeopathically, you need to INCREASE things like water intake, Omega 3 fatty acid (fish oils, flax seed oil) intake, sleep, and exercise. DECREASE stress, caffeine, Omega 6 intake (meats, cooking oils), stop smoking if you do, and try to watch your environments and stay away from dirty dusty places. So, after getting your doc to treat your lid problems, I'd stick with Dailies for contacts. They're a little more expensive but also the best for allergy/dry eye/bleph trouble patients. I'd start with the Acuvue 1 Day Moist 9.0's, depending on your eye shape. But, see your doc for the final treatment decision. If it's been a big problem, see if he/she agrees with a Doxycycline regimen for you. I've treated many tough cases successfully with that

Question: Does blepharitis really cause a lot of pain all around the eye? I have blepharitis, diagnosed at Morefields eye hospital London and confirmed at Westfields eye hospital London. I went for a second opinion because I couldn't believe this could cause so much burning pain behind my left eye while showing no redness or gunk. My eyes are clean and infection free, I've had a month of anti biotics and follow a cleaning routine - with baby shampoo. But my left eyes still hurts all around especially behind it. The eye pain is worse during the night. Is this normal?

Answer: No blepharitis is to all intense and purposes merely a condition affecting the lash margin of the eyelid. It is generally more annoying than it is painful and it never causes pain behind the eye. It does sound as if you have another problem.

Question: Is there any treatment for Blepharitis and dry eyes? Is there any treatment Blepharitis and dry eyes. Is it possible to get dry eyes because of stress.

Answer: blepharitis has to do with your skin type, so you can't fix it but you can control it. in the morning and at night get a hot wash cloth, put it on your eyes for about 5 minutes and that will help break up the bacteria on your eyelids. after that, get some baby shampoo or Ocusoft lid scrubs (sold at drugstores) and scrub it and that will get all the rest of the trash off. You should do this twice a day for a month or so and then do it once a day after that. Your doctor can give you eye drops if that doesn't help at all. Dry eyes has a great drug now called Restasis which helps your eyes produce more tears. It's a prescription only but if you choose to get over the counter stuff, get things like Refresh or Optive, NOT visine or murine or anything that "gets the red out" - they make the blood cells in your eyes angry and you end up with redder, dryer eyes than before. Hope this helps.

Question: How do I remove a blepharitis fatty oil pocket under eyelid? Under my upper eyelid, I often get a fatty tissue oil pocket which develops. It swells up and when I wake up, my eye is totally sealed shut all crusted. This lasts about 1-2 months and eventually goes away. I know its related to blepharitis but how do I remove the tissue that develops under upper eyelid? or is it best to wait it out instead of trying to remove the oil pocket myself?

Answer: dont attempt to remove it yourself. consult with a plastic surgeon. there is a procedure called an upper lid blepharoplasty where the pocket and redundant skin is removed. most insurance providers will cover this procedure if it is significant enough to impair vision in one or both eyes.

Question: Is the Blepharitis contagious from dogs to humans? I was wondering if me or my family can catch Blepharitis from our dog? We have a an appt with our vet coming up later in the week but I am curious if this is contagious? Thanks

Answer: animal borne diseases are not contagious to humans

Question: Can blepharitis lead to vision impairment? I went to go see my doctor because my eye was blurry and I was seeing weird lights like floaters, bright lights in the corners of my eyes, and things that looked light flies flying by. She checked out my eyes and said I had blepharitis. But the paperwork I got and everything I looked up said it was dry eyes and didn't mention anything about seeing strange lights. Is it something the doctor passed up like retinal tear/detachment? Yea I forgot to mention that I did have dry eyes.

Answer: Blepharitis is dry or inflamed eyelids. Many people have mild blepharitis, usually mild enough to not even notice. Are you sure you heard your doctor right?

Question: How can a spouse protect his/her spouse from getting blepharitis, which I think is contagious? Should lysol or a bleach be added to the wash when washing towels used by both?

Answer: It isn't contagious - blepharitis is an inflammation of the eyelids - usually chronic. Are you sure you don't mean conjunctivitis - which can be contagious. Either way - you don't need to add lysol or bleach to the wash - just wash them in soap. Keep hands washed and practice good eye hygenie. If you think you have conjunctivitis - you can go to your doctor for antibiotic eyedrops.

Question: What kind of Dr should I see for Blepharitis? A dermatologist or eye dr? I have been to an eye specialist 3 times to have this checked out and all 3 times they have not been able to tell me what it is or how to get rid of it ... thank God for the internet!

Answer: A regular physician could be of help. I find it hard to believe an opthamologist couldn't tell you what it is, because that's fairly simple. It's an inflammation of the eyelids, usually at the margins. As to the cause, if it's not due to staph infection or seborhea (like dandruff of the eyelids, basically) then it's would be hard to nail an exact cause. Sometimes, like all sh*t, it just happens. It's also very difficult to get rid of if it's not bacterial. You can have it as a chronic condition, so it's possible you may never really get rid of it. In the meantime, try this routine- apply a warm wet compress to the eyes, using a clean washcloth, for about 2-3 minutes. That will plump up the skin. Then dilute a non-tearing type baby shampoo, about 1 part shampoo to 10 parts of water, and use that with the washcloth to gently clean away the built up gunk from your eyes. It may take some gentle scrubbing to do it, and depending on how close it is to the eyelashes, you might have better luck in the tight spots with a cotton swab. Once this is done, rinse your face well. In some cases, the doctors will prescribe an antibiotic ointment specially made for eyes to put on before bedtime to help cut down on the matting and clumping bits. Depending on what the cause is, this little routine may be one you have to follow for a long time, if not the rest of your life. If you also suffer from dandruff, sometimes getting that under control will help matters with the eyelids as well. I don't think a dermatologist would be of much help to you- they get a little squirrelish when you start talking eyelids, and would probably just send you off to see a regular doc or opthamologist, after billing you of course. But a good general practitioner should be able to help you out to start with, and they are lots cheaper than specialists. In this case, a specialist probably isn't any better bet. Sorry not to have better news or ideas for you- you just don't suffer from something easy to fix unfortunately.

Question: What other options for treating blepharitis do I have? I currently take fishoil and flaxseed nutritional supplements, take 50mg Minocycline daily, use Restasis drops twice daily, have punctal plugs in both eyes, use Tobradex ointment at night and use Sterilid to clean my eyelashes twice daily. What other options do I have as I also use preservative free Refresh endura artificial tears about every 20-30 minutes throughout the day and still have the flaky discharge on my eyelids by the afternoon. I also use Alrex steroid drops three times a day and even with all the above still have irritation.

Answer: Blepharitis is very difficult to get rid of -- I had it for over 6 months. I found that the best thing to do was rinse the area with cool water several times a day, carefully drying off each time (don't rub). Creams and such didn't work for me.

Question: Does anyone know anything about blepharitis & how to treat it? I have had ongoing problems with slight swelling of my eyelids. I went to my optometrist & he told me that it was from an eye infection. I took the eye drops that he gave me & the problem went away temporarily, but came back in about a week. This kept going on for almost 2 months. I would take the drops again, it would improve & then return. I got another opinion from an optamologist who told me that the condition was caused from wearing my contacts overnite, even though I NEVER wear contacts while I'm sleeping. He prescribed the same drops. Frustrated, I went to another optamologist who diagnosed me with blepharitis. He gave me a pamphlet about it, & prescribed Patanol(an antihistimine eye drop) , Restasis(increases tear production), & Doxycycline(antibiotic). I also have to use eyelid scrubs twice a day. I have been on this treatment for over a month & I still have some problems with my right eye, even though it's not as bad as it was. Does anyone have any experience with this? The only symptoms I have are reoccurring itchyness & swelling of the eyelid(& it is mainly my right eye). Would blepharitis be the only diagnosis for this? Should I get another opinion after already consulting three doctors? I've been reading other people's coments on this condition. Some say it's caused by dry eyes, some say it's caused by a staph infection, some say it's contagious, & others say it isn't. How do I know who's right?

Answer: The symptoms of the disease are one or any or a combination of any of the following- watery or red eyes , a gritty, burning sensation in the eye , itchy eyelids ,red, swollen eyelids , flaking of the skin around the eyes, crusted eyelashes upon awakening, sensitivity to light , frothy tears ,eyelashes that grow abnormally and loss of eyelashes .The eyelids may appear greasy and crusted with scales that cling to the lashes. This debris can cause the eyelids to stick together at night. Don't be concerned if you have to pry your eyes open in the morning because of these sticky secretions. Sometimes you may notice only the presence of dried tear secretions in the morning that feel like small grains of sand. Blepharitis can be difficult to treat. Treatment includes good hygiene — regular cleaning of the area — to control signs and symptoms and prevent complications. If your condition doesn't improve, contact your doctor. He or she may prescribe an antibiotic cream or ointment. In severe cases, eyedrops containing antibiotics and steroids may be prescribed. If your blepharitis is linked to an underlying cause such as dandruff or rosacea, treating those conditions may alleviate the blepharitis.Blepharitis rarely disappears completely. Even with successful treatment, relapses are common. Paying extra attention to good hygiene at those times may help bring the condition back under control. Hope this is helpful matador89

Question: Am I qualified to be a fighter pilot if I have minor blepharitis? Other than that I am very qualified, good vision working on an aerospace engineering degree, in great shape.

Answer: You have to have a bachelor's to be a military officer. You have to be in EXCEPTIONALLY good health, because due to G forces that dogfighter aircraft are capable of producing, it puts extreme stress on the body. Obtaining a commission as an officer is hard enough, then you have to make it through pilot courses. From what I know, only a small top percentage make it to be figher pilots.

Question: I think I have blepharitis, I keep getting styes in different places around my eyes? The pharmacist and doctor gave me something to treat a stye, and said to stop future ones I must clean around the eye with baby shampoo But they keep on coming, and each stye lasts for a few weeks, what can I do?

Answer: Styes and blepharitis are different - but they are related as they are caused by the same bug - staphylococcus. The answer to treating it is lid hygiene - both a hot compress and scrubbing the lid (gently!) along the lid margin - with either diluted baby shampoo (diluted 10x with boiled water to keep it sterile) or you can buy lid scrubs. These make a big difference if done twice a day for a week and then once a day for a week. After that you can either give up until the symptoms come back or do it every few days to keep the problem away. If it's persistent - which it sounds like it is you can get Fucithalmic ointment - which needs a prescription from your GP or a written order from your optometrist - it's on the list of things that optometrists can "prescribe". This ointment is very effective at treating this condition - keep doing the lid hygiene and then afterwards dry your lids and massage a small amount of the ointment about where your eyelashes are - you should see quite a difference in just a couple of days.

Question: With proper treatment, will chronic blepharitis be noticeable? Will the visual symptoms go away? That is, will people be able to see there's something wrong with your eye if you treat it properly?

Answer: Yes and no. The visual symptoms should certainly subside with proper treatment, but if you stop they will often come back. Lay people will likely not be able to see anything wrong as long as proper treatment is done. Depending on the type of blepharitis (anterior vs. posterior), cause (Staph., seborrheic, etc.), and severity, treatment includes lid scrubs, warm compresses, antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, etc.

Question: Can drops for Red Eye treat Blepharitis? I've noticed that I seem to have it. The redness and swelling are the same and I'm wondering if the vial of Red Eye drops I keep on hand could be effective in the treatment of this as well. My doc is all the way across the state in Boston and I really don't feel like taking the trip if there's another option. Thanks.

Answer: OTC "redness reliever" like visine? no, wont help blepharitis at all. how do you know you have bleph? try this instead: http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q…

Question: I have a mild case of blepharitis.Dr said no mascara for 6 weeks.Losing it.Can I wear a special kind? I have small eyes and NEED mascara.I am doing all the stuff he said for blepharitis can I wear a bit of mascara to work?

Answer: No, definitely not. Mascara can really aggravate it and make the irritation worse. Also IDK if your doctor told you this but blepharitis is not like a one time infection like styes or other eye problems, in a lot of people it is basically chronic meaning if you get it once its super easy for you to get it in the future. You can keep from getting it again by taking good care of your eyes and not irritating them but you're always going to be susceptible to it:( So wait the 6 weeks, NO mascara or eye makeup until doc says it is allowed. Also you've got to get all new eye makeup, brushes, etc. If you can, get hypoallergenic/non irritating type products. Don't get like thickening mascara or waterproof because those are hard to remove and are more irritating/clogging for your eyelids. Buy plain basic washable type mascara. It kinda sucks but you don't want to get it again, that is worse than having to find new makeup brands imo.