Blepharitis is chronic inflammation of the eyelid margins, most often related to Meibomian gland dysfunction and sometimes associated with rosacea. It evolves in flare-ups and promotes dry eye and recurrent chalazia.
Symptoms
Red, irritated eyelid margins, flakes or crusts at the base of the lashes, stinging and sticky eyes especially in the morning, foreign-body sensation.
Risk factors
Skin rosacea and seborrhoeic dermatitis are the most frequent backgrounds. Other recognised factors are overgrowth of Demodex (a mite naturally present at the base of the lashes), age, dry eye, an atopic background (eczema), diabetes and conditions weakening the immune system.
Long-term treatment
Daily eyelid hygiene is the cornerstone of treatment: warming (warm compresses or heated mask), eyelid massage, then cleaning of the lid margin. Consistency over several weeks is the key to results.
During flare-ups
An azithromycin antibiotic eye drop (Azyter®) can be prescribed as a short 3-day course, repeatable depending on flare-ups, along with artificial tears for the associated dryness.
IPL treatment (intense pulsed light)
The Ophtalife practice in Boulogne-Billancourt is equipped with an IPL (intense pulsed light) device: this treatment stimulates the Meibomian glands and reduces inflammation of the eyelid margin, over a few painless sessions performed at the practice. It is offered for blepharitis and dry eye resistant to usual care; the protocol (number of sessions) is defined at the consultation.
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