Burning Sensation, Redness or Itchiness In Eyes? It May be Blepharitis

What Is Bleharitis?

Blepharitis is a very common eye-lid disease affecting all and the sundry, but primarily affecting the children. In ophthalmic jargon, it is defined as the inflammation of eye-lids. It leads to following symptoms in varying combinations:

• Flakes/crusting on eyelashes
• Burning sensation in eyes
• Intermittent itching
• Watering from eyes
• Grittiness or foreign body sensation in eyes
• Eyelid swelling
• Pain in eyes
• Redness of eyes

What Confirms the Diagnosis of Blepharitis?

Presence of the aforesaid symptoms with slit-lamp findings of inspissated meibomian gland, discharge, superficial punctuate keratitis and thickened, hyperaemic, crusting of eyelids and prominence of blood vessels at eyelid margin.

What to Do to Get Relief?

If one suffers from any of the aforementioned complaints, an ophthalmic consultation should be undertaken. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, following remedial measures are advocated:

1. Hot fomentation (Example : Applying of hot moist towel) 3-4 times daily.
2. Cleansing eye-lashes with sodium bicarbonate in lukewarm water at-least twice daily.
3. Medical therapy to be followed is as follows:

Rx (possible medications):

• • Tab Doxycycline 100 mg once to twice daily for 7-14 days, depending upon the severity of the condition.
  • Eye ointment Nebracin to be massaged twice daily over eyelid margins. Alternately, erythromycin ointment or azithromycin could be used for 7-10 days.
  • Eye drops Refresh tears 4-6 times daily for 7-10 days.
  • Eye drops Cromyl forte 4% 3 times daily.

What More to Take Note Of?

If the condition does not resolve within 2 weeks, one MUST seek an urgent ophthalmic consultation to rule out pediculosis or a masquerading sebaceous carcinoma.

The thick and thin of this article is that blepharitis is a very common condition but it can be easily prevented and treated by maintaining a good ocular hygiene and taking proper medications.

So, crust it off and take care of your eyes and health in general.