Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsPosteriorAnteriorSelf-CareMedical TreatmentFrequently Asked QuestionsNext in Blepharitis GuideCauses and Risk Factors of Flaky Eyelids
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Posterior
Anterior
Self-Care
Medical Treatment
Frequently Asked Questions
Next in Blepharitis Guide
Blepharitisis inflammation of theeyelidsthat often results in flaking and itching. Posterior blepharitis affects the inner eyelid near the eye. Anterior blepharitis impacts the outside of your eyelid along the eyelash line.
Both posterior and anterior blepharitis affect people of all ages. The conditions tend to occur more often in people with oily skin.
This article explains the different types of blepharitis and how you can treat them both at home and with medical care.
Andrei310 / iStock / Getty Images
Posterior Blepharitis
Posterior blepharitis is the more common of the two types. It develops when oil glands in the inner eyelid allow bacteria to grow.
Called Meibomian glands, these glands secrete a type of oil that gets mixed with tears with the force of a blink. This oil is designed to prevent tear film evaporation.
When these glands are inflamed, either too much or too little oil is secreted. Red, burning eyes ordry eyescan occur, as can fluctuations in vision.
Posterior blepharitis is occur as a result of skin conditions such as acne rosacea and scalp dandruff.
It is also referred to as meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).
Anterior Blepharitis
Anterior blepharitis affects the outside of the eyelid where the eyelashes attach.
There are three main types of anterior blepharitis: seborrheic, ulcerative, and demodex.
Seborrheic Blepharitis
Seborrheic blepharitis is associated with dandruff.
This type typically causes the eyelids to become red and produces waxy scales that build up on the eyelashes, causing the eyes to itch.
Ulcerative Blepharitis
This type causes hard crusts to form around the eyelashes.These crusts often become matted during sleep, making it difficult to open the eyes in the morning.
Ulcerative blepharitis is less common than seborrheic blepharitis, but more severe.
Demodex Blepharitis
Self-Care Options for Blepharitis
Blepharitis is usually a chronic condition. Self-care like cleaning the eyelid, consuming fatty acids, and encouraging blinking can play a big part in managingsymptoms.
Warm Compresses and Eyelid Scrubs
There are also in-office procedures where the doctor can apply a treatment using a specialized device (via heat and manual expression of the oil glands) to clean the eyelid margins and decreased inflammation.
How to Scrub Your Eyelids
Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids are shown to stabilize the Meibomian glands and create an anti-inflammatory effect on the eye. It may take three months or longer before a definite beneficial effect is seen.
Omega-3s can be found in foods like salmon, halibut, walnuts, and flax seeds.
Check with a healthcare provider before using omega-3 supplements, especially if you have any other medical problems.
Fish Oil for Dry Eyes
Increased Blinking
Blinking causes the expression of oil from the Meibomian glands.
Concentrating when reading or using a digital device often reduces blinking, which can cause dry, irritated eyes. Your blink rate also naturally decreases with age.
Do your best to take breaks from things like computer work. Even try to make a specific effort to stop and blink hard 20 to 30 times, four times a day.
Medical Treatment for Blepharitis
Home care may not be enough to manage blepharitis. Medicine may need to be prescribed.
Topical Antibiotics
Azithromycin is available in a topical form called Azasite. This medication tends to have an anti-inflammatory effect as well help fight infection.
Azasite comes as a solution in a dropper bottle. Healthcare providers should instruct patients to apply 1 drop into the affected eye.
Erythromycin and bacitracin ointments may also be prescribed, although they are a little thicker and harder to use on the eyelid.
Oral Antibiotics
For stubborn cases, oral antibiotics may also be prescribed.
Oral tetracycline, minocycline, or doxycycline prescribed anywhere from 30 days to much longer can be quite effective.
This is helpful especially for patients with a more severe form of blepharitis calledocular rosacea.
Corticosteroids
Although steroids can bring unwanted side effects and risks, they are very effective at quelling inflammation when more traditional methods do not work.
Healthcare providers will prescribe corticosteroids for short-term inflammation control to minimize potential complications of blepharitis.
Topical Anti-parasitics
Xdemvy (lotilaner) is an eye drop used to treat Demodex blepharitis.
Both types of blepharitis are considered chronic, and some people are more prone to recurrences. These can be managed, however.
Cold air, excessive screen use, not enough sleep, wearing contacts, dehydration, skin conditions like dandruff and rosacea can all make blepharitis worse.Learn MoreWhat Is Rosacea?
Cold air, excessive screen use, not enough sleep, wearing contacts, dehydration, skin conditions like dandruff and rosacea can all make blepharitis worse.
Learn MoreWhat Is Rosacea?
Learn MoreBlepharitis Treatments
Some studies have found a correlation between the two. While it is known that COVID-19 can enter the body through the eyes, it is less clear whether contact with infected eye fluid can transmit the virus.Learn MoreCOVID-19 and Dry Eye
Some studies have found a correlation between the two. While it is known that COVID-19 can enter the body through the eyes, it is less clear whether contact with infected eye fluid can transmit the virus.
Learn MoreCOVID-19 and Dry Eye
Low levels of vitamins A and D have been linked to eye problems, including dry eye and blepharitis.
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Ophthalmologists.What Is Blepharitis?Putnam CM.Diagnosis and management of blepharitis: an optometrist’s perspective.Clin Optom (Auckl). 2016;8:71-78. doi:10.2147/OPTO.S84795American Optometric Association.Blepharitis.Merck Manual.Blepharitis.National Eye Institute.Blepharitis.Oleñik A, Mahillo-Fernández I, Alejandre-Alba N, et al.Benefits of omega-3 fatty acid dietary supplementation on health-related quality of life in patients with meibomian gland dysfunction.Clin Ophthalmol. 2014;8:831-6. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S62470Sheppard AL, Wolffsohn JS.Digital eye strain: prevalence, measurement and amelioration.BMJ Open Ophthalmol. 2018;3(1):e000146. doi:10.1136/bmjophth-2018-000146British Oculoplastic Surgery Society.Overview: What is blepharitis?.Sen M, Honavar SG, Sharma N, Sachdev MS.COVID-19 and eye: A review of ophthalmic manifestations of COVID-19.Indian J Ophthalmol. 2021;69(3):488-509. doi:10.4103/ijo.IJO_297_21Duignan E, Kenna P, Watson R, Fitzsimon S, Brosnahan D.Ophthalmic manifestations of vitamin A and D deficiency in two autistic teenagers: case reports and a review of the literature.Case Rep Ophthalmol. 2015;6(1):24-29. Published 2015 Jan 24. doi:10.1159/000373921Additional ReadingLavine, Jay B., MD.The Eye Care Source Book. Contemporary Books.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Ophthalmologists.What Is Blepharitis?Putnam CM.Diagnosis and management of blepharitis: an optometrist’s perspective.Clin Optom (Auckl). 2016;8:71-78. doi:10.2147/OPTO.S84795American Optometric Association.Blepharitis.Merck Manual.Blepharitis.National Eye Institute.Blepharitis.Oleñik A, Mahillo-Fernández I, Alejandre-Alba N, et al.Benefits of omega-3 fatty acid dietary supplementation on health-related quality of life in patients with meibomian gland dysfunction.Clin Ophthalmol. 2014;8:831-6. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S62470Sheppard AL, Wolffsohn JS.Digital eye strain: prevalence, measurement and amelioration.BMJ Open Ophthalmol. 2018;3(1):e000146. doi:10.1136/bmjophth-2018-000146British Oculoplastic Surgery Society.Overview: What is blepharitis?.Sen M, Honavar SG, Sharma N, Sachdev MS.COVID-19 and eye: A review of ophthalmic manifestations of COVID-19.Indian J Ophthalmol. 2021;69(3):488-509. doi:10.4103/ijo.IJO_297_21Duignan E, Kenna P, Watson R, Fitzsimon S, Brosnahan D.Ophthalmic manifestations of vitamin A and D deficiency in two autistic teenagers: case reports and a review of the literature.Case Rep Ophthalmol. 2015;6(1):24-29. Published 2015 Jan 24. doi:10.1159/000373921Additional ReadingLavine, Jay B., MD.The Eye Care Source Book. Contemporary Books.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Academy of Ophthalmologists.What Is Blepharitis?Putnam CM.Diagnosis and management of blepharitis: an optometrist’s perspective.Clin Optom (Auckl). 2016;8:71-78. doi:10.2147/OPTO.S84795American Optometric Association.Blepharitis.Merck Manual.Blepharitis.National Eye Institute.Blepharitis.Oleñik A, Mahillo-Fernández I, Alejandre-Alba N, et al.Benefits of omega-3 fatty acid dietary supplementation on health-related quality of life in patients with meibomian gland dysfunction.Clin Ophthalmol. 2014;8:831-6. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S62470Sheppard AL, Wolffsohn JS.Digital eye strain: prevalence, measurement and amelioration.BMJ Open Ophthalmol. 2018;3(1):e000146. doi:10.1136/bmjophth-2018-000146British Oculoplastic Surgery Society.Overview: What is blepharitis?.Sen M, Honavar SG, Sharma N, Sachdev MS.COVID-19 and eye: A review of ophthalmic manifestations of COVID-19.Indian J Ophthalmol. 2021;69(3):488-509. doi:10.4103/ijo.IJO_297_21Duignan E, Kenna P, Watson R, Fitzsimon S, Brosnahan D.Ophthalmic manifestations of vitamin A and D deficiency in two autistic teenagers: case reports and a review of the literature.Case Rep Ophthalmol. 2015;6(1):24-29. Published 2015 Jan 24. doi:10.1159/000373921
American Academy of Ophthalmologists.What Is Blepharitis?
Putnam CM.Diagnosis and management of blepharitis: an optometrist’s perspective.Clin Optom (Auckl). 2016;8:71-78. doi:10.2147/OPTO.S84795
American Optometric Association.Blepharitis.
Merck Manual.Blepharitis.
National Eye Institute.Blepharitis.
Oleñik A, Mahillo-Fernández I, Alejandre-Alba N, et al.Benefits of omega-3 fatty acid dietary supplementation on health-related quality of life in patients with meibomian gland dysfunction.Clin Ophthalmol. 2014;8:831-6. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S62470
Sheppard AL, Wolffsohn JS.Digital eye strain: prevalence, measurement and amelioration.BMJ Open Ophthalmol. 2018;3(1):e000146. doi:10.1136/bmjophth-2018-000146
British Oculoplastic Surgery Society.Overview: What is blepharitis?.
Sen M, Honavar SG, Sharma N, Sachdev MS.COVID-19 and eye: A review of ophthalmic manifestations of COVID-19.Indian J Ophthalmol. 2021;69(3):488-509. doi:10.4103/ijo.IJO_297_21
Duignan E, Kenna P, Watson R, Fitzsimon S, Brosnahan D.Ophthalmic manifestations of vitamin A and D deficiency in two autistic teenagers: case reports and a review of the literature.Case Rep Ophthalmol. 2015;6(1):24-29. Published 2015 Jan 24. doi:10.1159/000373921
Lavine, Jay B., MD.The Eye Care Source Book. Contemporary Books.
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