If your eyes are dehydrated and artificial tears provide only temporary relief without improving the symptoms, it might be time to suspect blepharitis. Blepharitis is when the tiny oil glands inside your eyelids get blocked by dirt or bacteria, causing inflammation. Just as we wash our hair and shower daily, it’s essential to clean our eyelids every day, too! So, how should one go about cleaning their eyelids?
Causes of Blepharitis
Blepharitis can be divided into two main types. First, anterior blepharitis occurs due to infections near the eyelashes or seborrheic dermatitis. It is characterized by redness and dilation of blood vessels in the skin. The second type is posterior blepharitis, which happens when the ducts of the meibomian glands get blocked, or the glands do not secrete normally. The secretions inside turn into pus and trigger inflammation.
How to Prevent Blepharitis?
While antibiotics can be taken to eliminate the bacteria causing blepharitis, and artificial tears can provide some relief, these measures may not completely solve the problem. To prevent blepharitis, managing the meibomian glands, the primary cause of the condition, is essential. When washing your face, it’s good to melt the oil in the meibomian glands with warm water. Cold water is not recommended as it can make the blocked glands even harder.
What is the Meibomian Gland??
Our eyelids have a region called the meibomian gland. This oil gland secretes oil that prevents our tears from evaporating quickly. If this gland fails to produce enough oil or gets blocked, it can lead to meibomian gland dysfunction. This dysfunction refers to the inability of the eyelid to function due to inflammation or other causes, most commonly caused by inflammation on the eyelid.
In Severe Cases, It Can Manifest as a Stye
If you have blepharitis, secondary infections by bacteria such as staphylococcus can occur. This can cause the skin around your eyes to turn red and swell, potentially triggering the expansion of blood vessels around your eyelids and, in severe cases, worsening into a stye. If the inflammation around your eyelashes becomes severe, a large amount of eye discharge can stick to your eyelashes. This inflammation can be caused by bacteria and often by eyelash mites.
Risk of Eyelash Loss
One of the complications of blepharitis is eyelash loss. This can be caused by scarring of the follicle, which can lead to the irregular growth of eyelashes. A widespread scar can also inhibit the growth of eyelashes. Short-term complications such as dry and red eyes can also occur, so getting treatment on time is essential if your eyes get infected. In particular, scars under the eyelids can scratch the sensitive surface of the eye, which can lead to the formation of ulcers.
Cleaning the Meibomian Gland Oil
How should you clean the oil from the meibomian glands? First, soak a clean towel in warm water and gently cover your eyes for 5-10 minutes. This will help the oily secretions on your eyelids to come out. Then, use a cotton swab to wipe away the secretions from each eyelash gently. If this process seems cumbersome, you can replace it with a 5-10-minute warm compress before bed, which will help the oily secretions from your eyelids melt and come out more easily.
Using Eyelid Cleansers
Various eyelid cleansers are available on the market. “Blephasol” is suitable for people with dry eyes, blepharitis, and excessive styes and can help prevent and improve symptoms when used regularly. “Blephaclean” comes in a disposable pad that can be used once and discarded, making it convenient to carry around. These eyelid cleansers are characterized by their lack of alcohol and preservatives and are fragrance-free, minimizing irritation. There’s no need to wash them off with water after use, making them convenient. They are also hypoallergenic, making them safe for children to use.
If Cleaning Daily Seems Cumbersome
If cleaning your eyelids seems like a hassle, you can also use soap when washing your face. When washing your face, close your eyes so the soap doesn’t get into your eyes, then lightly scrub the edge of your eyelids with soap 1-2 times. Alkaline soap is more effective in cleaning off lipids, so it’s better for eyelid cleaning than neutral soap.
Omega-3 Intake Helps
The eyes’ retina comprises DHA and EPA, which are abundant in omega-3 fatty acids. DHA and EPA help regenerate eye tissues and alleviate dry eye syndrome. Since our bodies cannot produce omega-3 fatty acids, they must be ingested through food or supplements. If it’s hard to consume omega-3, it’s also recommended to eat perilla oil frequently.
When is Medication Needed?
More aggressive treatment is needed if you have wounds on the cornea due to dry eye syndrome or observe redness and scales on the edge of your eyelids. Suppose it’s eyelid inflammation caused by bacteria or toxins. In that case, antibiotics should be used; specifically, antibiotic ointments designed for the eyes should be used since they could get into the eyes. If the condition doesn’t improve with local antibiotics, it should be switched to oral antibiotics.
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