Blepharitis

Question 1

What are the symptoms of blepharitis?

Answer 1

• Redness of eye and lid margins
• Gritty/foreign body sensation
• Dry eyes
• Burning sensation
• Itchy eyelids and discomfort

Question 2

What are the signs of blepharitis?

Answer 2

• **Lid crusting especially on awakening
• Flaking or scaling of the eyelid skin
• Telangiectasia
• Misdirected lashes
• often associated with chalazion and margin keratisis

Question 3

what is the management of blepharitis?

Answer 3

Lid hygiene

• Warm compresses (liquefy solidified meibomian secretions) 5-15mins 2-4x/day
• Lid wipes: Scrub eyelid margins w mild shampoo or commercially available preps on cotton-tipped applicator 2x/day, e.g. Systane

Abx

• Topical abx – Fucithalmic (fusidic acid eye drops) or tetracycline eye ointment
• Oral doxycycline (at least 6 weeks)– for more severe (e.g. a/w acne rosacea/Meibomian gland dysfx) or refractory cases

Lubricants (for symptomatic relief of dry eyes)