Infected Eyelid Treatment & Surgery

Overview

Blepharitis, which is sometimes called granulated eyelids, is an infection of the eyelids. It is more common in people over the age of 40, but can develop at any age.

Left untreated, blepharitis can lead to the loss of eyelashes, red inflamed eyelids, and eventually a blockage of the oil glands along the eyelid margins (which can lead to styes or chalazia). In severe cases, the cornea may also become inflamed to create vision issues.

Unfortunately, Blepharitis is usually a chronic condition requiring ongoing treatments, as most people afflicted experience repeated episodes separated by periods without symptoms.

Symptoms & Causes

Symptoms of blepharitis can include:

Scaly skin flakes along the eyelid margins
Red, swollen, itchy eyelids
Gritty, burning or stinging sensation in the eyes
Tiny pimples on the eyelid edges
Loss of eyelashes
Frequent sty formation
Crusted eyelashes upon awakening
Matter in the corners of the eyes on awakening
Eyelids appear greasy
Eyelids stick together
Eyelashes grow abnormally (misdirected eyelashes)
Itchy, burning, red, watery eyes
More frequent blinking
Sensitivity to light
Blurred vision

Blepharitis can be caused by a number of things including:

Bacterial infection (often staphylococcal)
Skin conditions (seborrhoeic dermatitis or rosacea)
Excess oil produced by the glands in the eyelid
Allergic reactions
Poor eyelid hygiene

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Infected Eyelid Treatments

In addition to eliminating soreness and redness, treatments help to prevent potential infections and scarring of the cornea.

Cleansing Treatments
Blepharitis is not usually curable, but massaging and cleaning the eyelids and eyelashes daily, along with applying warm compresses 2-3 times a day, can usually help control the symptoms.

Using pre-medicated eyelid scrub pads (Ocusoft) normally works best. The general recommendation would be to clean the eyelids every night for 2 weeks straight, then every other night after that. And, if symptoms return, immediately go back to cleaning and massaging daily.

Warm compress and massage are even more important when pimples or bumps have formed on the eyelids. This requires holding a warm washcloth against the eyelid until it cools, repeating this step a number of times per day.

Medication Treatments
In certain cases, antibiotic eye drops or ointment will be prescribed to be used along side the daily cleansing regimen. More severe cases may require antibiotics to be taken orally.

Important To Remember

Topical and oral medications may help control the symptoms of blepharitis, but they are not sufficient by themselves. Ongoing cleaning, massaging and compresses are essential in managing symptoms.

If medication seems to be making the condition worse or causes eyelid swelling, stop the medication immediately and contact your doctor.

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