What is Blepharitis?
Blepharitis is a very common chronic inflammatory condition characterised by intense redness, itchiness and foreign body sensation of the eyelids margins.
The condition affects people of different ages, ethnic backgrounds and genders, with no sex or age predilection [1, 2, 3, 4]. It is not usually sight-threatening but may be complicated by dry eyes due to Meibomian gland dysfunction, as well as keratopathy, corneal neovascularisation and ulceration, and permanent morphological changes of the eyelids [1].
Causes of Blepharitis
The causes of blepharitis are multifaceted and can include:
- Bacterial infection: This is the most common cause of blepharitis [5].
- Seborrhoeic dermatitis: This can cause dandruff and redness of the scalp and eyebrows, often associated with anterior blepharitis [5].
- Clogged or malfunctioning oil glands: Chronic blepharitis is a condition in which 75% of sufferers have oil glands not working adequately, hidden on the inner eyelid [5].
- Eyelash mites: They can inhibit the release of oil from glands at the root of the eyelashes, and they can make blepharitis worse [5].
- Allergies: People with seasonal allergies or other eye allergies can develop blepharitis. Allergies are the most common cause when no ulcers are found [5, 6].
- Rosacea: Wet blepharitis is always associated with rosacea, a skin condition that causes (among other things) facial flushing and blood vessels that are visible to the naked eye [5].
What is a Stye?
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