Blepharitis

Question 1

What is blepharitis?

Answer 1

Inflammation of the eyelid(s)

Very common

Question 2

How does blepharitis present?

Answer 2

Symptoms:
Gritty, burning, ‘awareness’ of eyes’, irritable eyes

Signs:
Mild conjunctival redness, loss of eyelashes or ingrowing eyelashes (that can scratch cornea – will often need pulling out), recurrent lid lumps (chalazia, styes)

Most commonly bilateral, affecting upper and lower lids

Red flags:
Unilateral might be indication of carcinoma or something else more serious

Associations:
Rosacea

Question 3

How do you manage blepharitis?

Answer 3

Not curable, is manageable though (important to be clear to patients that cannot be eradicated)

Lid hygiene (cleaning eyelashes with cotton bud and baby shampoo) then application of chloramphenicol ointment to base of eye lashes