The doctor has diagnosed that you have a condition of the eyelids called ‘‘BLEPHARITIS’’ (pronounced BLEF-A-RY-TIS).
This is a chronic condition affecting the eyelids and can cause redness, swelling, itching, discomfort, dryness or watering of the eyes. In the longer term it can cause loss or misdirection of the eyelashes.
Blepharitis is a chronic condition, which means it will never go away. It can be treated and controlled but can never be fully cured.
The mainstay of treatment is ‘lid hygiene’ which you need to practice regularly and diligently ‘to keep you eyes more comfortable’.
If any of the following information is unclear please contact the eye clinic department on 01253 953473.
Apply a warm, clean, facecloth to your closed lids gently for five or ten minutes, at least twice a day. You can either use a towel soaked in warm water or commercially available ‘eye bag’. This will help to soften any secretions or crusts on the lashes and lids and open up blocked glands.
• Wash your hands thoroughly before and after you have cleaned your eyelids.
• Dip a cotton bud in a cup of boiled cooled water and scrub your eyelids near and between your eyelashes to remove the crusting. Try to avoid touching your eye with the cotton bud.
• Alternatively, you can wrap a clean flannel around your finger and use this to scrub the eyelashes instead of cotton buds.
Finish off by rinsing your lids in clean water. Do this twice daily and then when things have settled, once daily.
Apply any eye medication prescribed by the doctor after performing warm compress and lid cleaning.
Do not share your facecloth or towel with anyone. Remove make-up before going to bed.
Change make-up supplies every three to six months.
You may have been prescribed eye drops to moisturise your eyes or an ointment to put into your eyes and / or the eyelids. This may be an antibiotic with or without a steroid to prevent infection and reduce inflammation. This should be applied as prescribed by the doctor. The ointment can be put on the edges of the eyelid and over the lashes either with a clean fingertip or using a cotton bud.
It does not matter if the ointment goes in the eye.
