Blepharitis is an eye condition characterized by chronic inflammation of the eyelid, the severity and time course of which can vary.
Blepharitis is an eye condition characterized by chronic inflammation of the eyelid, the severity and time course of which can vary.
Onset can be acute, resolving without treatment within 2–4 weeks (this can be greatly reduced with lid hygiene), but more generally is a long standing inflammation varying in severity.
It may be classified as seborrhoeic, staphylococcal, mixed, posterior or meibomitis, or parasitic.
Symptoms
Redness of the eyelids
Flaking of skin on the lids
Crusting at the lid margins, generally worse on waking
Infection of the eyelash follicle/sebaceous gland (hordeolum)
Red eye
Debris in the tear film, seen under magnification (improved contrast with use of fluorescein drops)
Gritty sensation of the eye or foreign-body sensation
Eye itching