6.1.4. Identifies external pathology and offers appropriate advice to patients not requiring referral. Flashcards
Difference between Anterior & Posterior Blepharitis
- Anterior = inflammation of glands of zeiss or moll; bacterial or serborrhoeic
- Posterior = inflammation of meibomian glands
Differences between Staphylococcal & Seborrhoeic Blepharitis
- Staphylococcal = bacterial exotoxins released by bacteria causing inflammatory response or allergic reaction to bacteria themselves
- Seborrheic = disorder of glands of zeis or moll, related to acne rosacea & serborrhoeic dermatitis
What types of patient get serbahooiec?
Seborrhoeic dermatitis (for example, of the scalp)
Ocular rosacea (a cause of posterior blepharitis)
Seborrheic blepharitis is differentiated by
less lid redness, swelling, and telangiectasia of the lid margins as compared to staphylococcal blepharitis, but an increased amount of oily scale and greasy crusting on the lashes. So more oily vs more red.
Symptoms of Anterior Blepharitis
- Chronic
- Worse in mornings
- Redness, irritation, grittiness, watery discharge
- FB sensation, soreness, photophobia
- Itching
Signs of Anterior Blepharitis (early)
- Scales - hard & brittle in staphylococcal (collarettes), soft & greasy in serborrhoeic
- Lid hyperaemia, shiny lid
- Lid margin swelling
- Telengectasia (lid margin veins visible)
Signs of Anterior Blepharitis (longstanding)
- Foamy tears
- Scarring
- Thickened lid margin
- Corneal staining
- Trichiasis, Madarosis, Poliosis
Symptoms of Posterior Blepharitis
- Dryness
- Itchiness
- Redness
- CL intolerance
- Blurred vision due to frothing of tear film (not enough lipids change properties of tear film)
Signs of Posterior Blepharitis
- Secretions at meibomian gland orifices
- Foam at tear meniscus
- Plugging of orifices (glands look dilatated)
- Conjunctival hyperaemia
- Evaporative tears
- Secondary signs include: punctate epithelial erosion over lower third of cornea; marginal keratitis; scarring; neovascularisation and pannus; mild papillary conjunctivitis
Risk factors of bleph
- Age
- Hormones
- Gender
- Secondary to some skin conditions
- Diabetes
- Makeup
- Down’s syndrome
- Dirty people/hygiene
- CL wearers
Difference between Staphylococcal & Demodex (tough one!)
- Generally same symptoms, might be milder in demodex
- Staph has yellower greasy scales at bottom of lashes. Demodex look more cylindrical & white (dandruff cuff)
How to treat demodex?
- Tea tree oil with eye only solutions as it’s toxic to the eye e.g. Optase solution. Done daily until sxs resolve
- Review dry eyes & blepharitis on College of Optometrists
Dry eye
- Common causes of aqueous deficient dry eye:
- Common causes of aqueous deficient dry eye:
- Sjogren syndrome (autoimmune)
- Rheumatoid arthritis (inflammatory)
- Lupus (inflammation)
- Sarcoidosis (autoimmune)
- Aging
- Refractive surgery
- Medications - antidepressants, antipsychotics, antihistamines, antihypertensive, anticholinergics, anti-arrhythmic
Dry eye
Predisposing factors:
- VDU - less blinking!
- Environment - air con, low humidity
- Smoking
- Contact lens wear
- Health issues as listed above
- Medication especially the pill!!
Dry eye
Symptoms (bilateral)
- Irritation, FBS, Redness, Gritiness, Burning
- Possibly blurred vision if epithelial disruption or mucous strands
- Sxs worsen with heat, wind or smoke