chronic eyelid margin swelling in the outside corners of both of my eyes

I have chronic eyelid margin swelling in the outside corners of both of my eyes and it extends 2 inches beyond the eye lids towards the cheek. There is pain, inflamation (inflammation), and itching in the outside corners of both eyes for the past several months mostly in the skin area.  Recently, my eyes have also started to burn and when they burn severely, my eye lashes fall.  My eyes are always tired and I've lost the fresh look.  I've used prescription steroid creams, antibiotic ointments, allergy eye drops etc. but nothing is helping. They thought it was angular blepahritis and treated me with blephamide ointment, tobradex ointment but nothing took away the swelling.  I've been using preservative free artificial tears, pataday, an eye drop which is for inflamation (inflammation) and nothing helps. They burn more in the afternoon and evening however, the eyelid margin swelling doesn't go away at all infact, it keeps increasing.  I've stopped all cosmetics for the past 1 year and only use a mild cleanser and moisturizer that was given to me by my dermatologist.  The opthomoligist has given up and I've been to three of them.  My dermatologist thinks it could be rosacea but I've done lid scrubbing and warm compresses and they irritate the outside corner of the eyes further.  It's a line coming out of the outside corners of the eye like an eye liner except that it is red and inflammed.  I have no idea how to treat it any more and I'm desperately searching for help.  Thank you for your help.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
For your symptoms, blepharitis and blepharospasm should be ruled out. Benign essential blepharospasm is not considered life-threatening, and occurs due to dry eyes or eye irritations. Blepharitis is caused by inflammation of the eyelids due to malfunctions of the oil glands near the base of the eyelids.

Another possibility which should be ruled out is of seborrheic dermatitis. Please consult an eye specialist and get these possibilities ruled out.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.