Those crystals edging your eyelids may not be leftover holiday party glitter. You might have blepharitis. Often mistaken for makeup residue or morning “eye dew,” this crusty condition, if neglected, can lead to loss of eyelashes, patchy makeup-repelling lids, styes and, in extreme cases, corneal damage.
Blepharitis is an inflammation that typically begins at the base of the eyelashes and then spreads onto the skin of the eyelids, explains Dr. Paul Harris, a Baltimore-area optometrist. “As the inflammation grows, the lids get red, and dead skin can fall and clog up the glands that are on the edges of your lids.” A stye (swelling of a gland near the eye) can result, or parts of the eye can become inflamed.
Between lashes, you might see bumps and crusty matter, which are exotoxins released by bacterial cells. Sometimes, abscesses form in sacs at the base of the eyelashes, leading to shallow ulcers that can scar eyelids and damage the cornea.
“Blepharitis is quite common, but with proper care, most of my patients don’t require aggressive medical treatment,” Harris said. “I prefer to have them use lid scrubs or baby shampoo to help control the problem before it develops into something I need to prescribe for.”
While blepharitis can be caused by staph infection, seborrheic dermatitis, allergens and other disorders affecting eyelids and tear ducts, some people are prone to it. Prevention as well as treatment can be as simple as awareness of good eye hygiene, says Wheaton, Md., optometrist Dr. David Kepner.
Gently cleaning the eye area daily, avoiding touching and rubbing eyes, proper contact lens cleaning and storage, and minimizing exposure to irritants such as smoke and cleaning product fumes will help ward off eye problems.
Blepharitis can be treated with over-the-counter and prescription remedies, and persistent cases may require topical or oral antibiotics, and steroid drops for corneal inflammation. But often, the condition can be relieved by something you may already have at home: baby shampoo.
» Let the warm stream of the shower soothe the eyelids.
» Apply just enough baby shampoo to create lather on a lint-free washcloth and carefully scrub eyelid edges.
» Clean once or twice a day until the eyes clear up. Then keep up the routine twice a week.
» Loosen crusted secretions prior to cleaning by resting warm compresses on the eyelids.
Eye care info:
» Visit the American Optometric
Association at www.aoa.org
