Blepharitis

A chronic inflammation of the eyelid.  Symptoms include redness of the eyes and eyelids, itching, burning, and a feeling that something is in the eye.  Sometimes crusts for on the eyelids and they stick together in the morning.  It always involves the eyelid margin (edge), but in some cases, it may also affect the conjunctiva (inner lining of the eye), the cornea (clear outer layer of the eye), and the eyelid skin.  Anterior blepharitis refers to an inflammation of the front layer of the eyelid.  It leads to oily secretions, eyelid swelling, scaling, and flaking.  This produces ocular itching and burning that can be severe.  Posterior blepharitis affects the inner eyelid and occurs when the small (meibomian) glands in the inner layer of the eyelid become inflamed or secrete and excessive quantity of their normal product.  This can produce an irritating burning sensation even though the eyelids look normal.  Complications from blepharitis include stye and chalazion (internal hordeolum).  A stye is an abscess which occurs when a lash follicle becomes infected.  It develops rapidly, producing a puffy, painful, swollen area on the eyelid.  A chalazion is a firm nodule caused by an inflammation of a meibomian gland.  It may appear suddenly or develop over time.  It is painful, red, and swollen, or may simply produce a firm mass.  Treatment of anterior blepharitis include removal of the infected hair follicle and topical antibiotics.  Posterior blepharitis is treated with oral antibiotics or steroids.  Both types are treated with warm compresses followed with lid cleaning 2-3 times a day.