WHAT IS BLEPHARITIS ?

• Blepharitis is inflammatory condition of the eye lids.
• Blepharitis is a common eye condition in which the eyelids became red, swollen, irritated, and itchy. It can cause crusty dandruff-like flakes on your eyelashes.
• Blepharitis usually affects both eyes. It can happen when a skin condition causes irritation, when you develop an infection or when oil glands become clogged.
• Its not contagious disease.

TYPES OF BLEPHARITIS

• Anterior blepharitis. Anterior blepharitis affects the outside of your eye, where your eyelashes attach to your eyelid. It usually happens because of bacteria on your skin or dandruff from your scalp or eyebrows.

Allergies or mites (tiny parasites) may also cause anterior blepharitis, but this is rare.

• Posterior blepharitis. Posterior blepharitis affects the outside of the inner edge of the eyelid — the part that touches your eye.

This type of blepharitis happens when the oil glands in your eyelids get clogged. Common skin conditions like rosacea and scalp dandruff can cause posterior blepharitis.

CAUSES OF BLEPHARITIS

    Causes of Anterior Blepharitis

• Acne rosacea: Rosacea causes facial skin inflammation, which can include your eyelids.
• Allergies: Allergies to contact lens solution, eye drops or makeup can spur irritation.
  Dandruff (seborrheic dermatitis): Dandruff flaking can irritate eyelids and cause inflammation.
• Dry eyes: Dry tear ducts can alter bacterial resistance, resulting in infection.
• Lice or mites in eyelashes (demodicosis): Lice or Demodex mites can block eyelash follicles and glands in your eye. One study found that 30% of people with chronic blepharitis had Demodex mites.

Causes of Posterior Blepharitis

• Meibomian gland dysfunction: When the oil from meibomian glands doesn’t flow freely, you can develop dry eye, which can result in inflammation and infection.
• Acne rosacea.
• Dandruff

SYMPTOMS OF BLEPHARITIS

• Watery eyes
• Red eyes
• A gritty, burning or stinging sensation in the eyes
• Eyelids that appear greasy
• Itchy eyelids
• Red, swollen eyelids
• Flaking of the skin around the eyes
• Crusted eyelashes
• Eyelid sticking
• More frequent blinking
• Sensitivity to light
• Blurred vision that usually improves with blinking.

PROGRESSIVE  STAGES OF  BLEPHERITIS

Stage 1: Early biofilm formation with swelling of the lash follicles, lash misdirection.

Stage 2: Inflammation of Meibomian glands with plugging.

Stage 3: Lacrimal involvement leads to aqueous insufficiency with little to no tear lake.

Stage 4: Chronic inflammation leads to a breakdown in the structural. integrity of the eyelid leading to lid laxity, entropion, and ectropion.

COMPLICATIONS OF BLEPHARITIS

• Eyelash problems: Blepharitis can cause your eyelashes to fall out, grow abnormally (misdirected eyelashes) or lose colour.
• Eyelid skin problems: Scarring can develop on your eyelids from long-term blepharitis. Or the eyelid edges might turn inward or outward.
• Excess tearing or dry eyes: Abnormal oily secretions and other debris shed from the eyelids, such as flaking associated with dandruff, can build up in your tear film — the water, oil and mucus solution that forms tears. Abnormal tear film interferes with keeping your eyelids moist. This can irritate your eyes and cause symptoms of dry eyes or excess tearing.
• Stye: A stye is an infection that develops near the base of the eyelashes. The result is a painful lump on the edge of your eyelid. A stye is usually most visible on the surface of the eyelid.
• Chalazion: A chalazion occurs when there’s a blockage in one of the small oil glands at the margin of the eyelid, just behind the eyelashes. This blockage causes inflammation of the gland, which makes the eyelid swell and redden. This can clear up or turn into a hard, non-tender bump.
• Chronic pink eye: Blepharitis can lead to recurrent bouts of pink eye (conjunctivitis).
• Injury to the cornea: Constant irritation from inflamed eyelids or misdirected eyelashes can cause a sore to develop on your cornea. Not having enough tears could increase your risk of a corneal infection.

DIAGNOSIS  : It’s done by examining the eyes and eyelids.

PREVENTION :

• Keep your hands, face and scalp clean.
  Try not to touch your itchy eyes or your face. Use a clean tissue if you must touch them.
• Remove all eye makeup before bedtime.
• Wipe away excess tears or eye drops with a clean tissue.
• Wear glasses instead of contact lenses until the condition clears.
• Use artificial tears if you have dry eyes and your provider agrees.
• Use anti-dandruff shampoo to wash your hair.
• Replace eye makeup — eyeliner, eye shadow, mascara — because they may have bacteria in the containers. You want to avoid reinfection.

HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT FOR BLEPHARITIS

1. Euphrasia – For Redness and Watering from Eyes

Euphrasia is very beneficial for manage the redness and watering from eyes in cases of blepharitis. The eyelids are very red and swollen, and burning and biting sensation in the eyes along with grittiness.

2. Apis Mellifica – For Stinging Sensation in the Eyes

Apis Mellifica is useful for blepharitis with a stinging sensation in the eyes.burning, scalding, smarting sensation is felt in the eyes. Eyelids tend to feel heavy, are red, swollen and may be itchy too. Irritation and soreness appear in the eyes. Sensitivity to light may also be present in a few cases.

3. Belladonna – For Swollen and Painful Lids

Belladonna is considered for blepharitis cases with swollen and painful eyelids. Pain, pressive in nature may appear in the eyes. This is most worse on closing the eyes .eye movement and light also worsens the pain. Eyes are sensitive to light. Redness and itching in the eyes may be marked too. A sensation of heat and burning in the eyes are prominent. Sand in the eye sensation also appears.

4. Argentum Nitricum – For Redness, Swelling of Eyelid Margin.

There is marked redness of the eyelids and swelling of the eyelid margin. Thick crusts may appear on the lids with swelling. This may be accompanied by sticking of eyelids in the morning. Photophobia may attend too. There may be dryness and heat in the eyes. Complaints may get better in cold air and with cold applications.

5. Graphites – For Flakiness/crusting at the Base of Eyelashes.

Graphites is an excellent medicine for blepharitis with flakiness/crusting at the base of eyelashes. There is marked dryness in the edges of lids with itching and a constant desire to rub the eyes. Eyelids margins are highly inflamed and may stick together especially at the night time. Along with this profuse watering from the eyes may arise. Smarting, burning and biting sensation in the eyes attend the above symptoms.

6. Pulsatilla – Thick, profuse, yellow, bland discharges. Itching and burning in eyes. Profuse lachrymation and secretion of mucus. Lids inflamed, agglutinated.
7. Clematis erecta – Chronic blepharitis, with sore and swollen Meibomian glands. Heat in eyes and sensitive to air must close.

WHY COSMIC HOMEO-HEALING CENTRE

Cosmic Homeo-Healing Centre is run by second generation Homeopath Dr. Mahavrat Patel having vast clinical records of more than 75 years and clinical experience of nearly 50 years in the treatment of various cases of Blepharitis. Under the able guidance of Dr. Mahavrat Patel, our team of experts has been successfully treating thousands of cases of Blepharitis for many years.