Blepharitis: What Is It and What Causes It?

Blepharitis is inflammation of the eyelid that causes the area to become red, irritated and itchy, often with scales similar to dandruff forming on the eyelashes. Other signs and symptoms of blepharitis include watery eyes, a burning sensation, greasy eyelids, frequent blinking, sensitivity to light, crusted eyelashes and even the loss eyelashes. Unfortunately, there’s no known cure for this condition and symptoms tend to come and go, with blepharitis sometimes going into remission before it reappears.

In this post, your optometrist at Vienna Eyecare Center discusses the causes of blepharitis.

Anterior Blepharitis

Anterior blepharitis is usually caused by bacteria or dandruff from the scalp and eyebrows. While these bacteria are common in the face and lids, infection can occur if they become excessive or the lids react poorly to them. Allergies or mite infestation in the eyelashes are less common causes of anterior blepharitis. To determine if this is what you have, contact your local eye doctor at Vienna Eyecare Center.

Posterior Blepharitis

Posterior blepharitis occurs when the glands in the eyelids produce too much oil. This excess oil can create a favorable environment for bacterial growth. Other causes of posterior blepharitis include skin conditions such as rosacea and scalp dandruff.

Treatment Options

The key to keeping blepharitis at bay is keeping your eyelids clean and free from crusts. There are various ways to do this such as warm compresses, artificial tear solutions and anti-dandruff shampoo. In extreme cases involving bacterial infection, an antibiotic may even be prescribed.

Turn to Vienna Eyecare Center for your eye care needs. We are your leading provider of contact lenses and vision correction services. Give us a call at (703) 938-7633 or fill out our contact form to make an appointment. We serve clients in Fairfax, VA, and nearby areas.