BLEPHARITIS

I have been diagnoised with blepharitis and have been give the steroids and baby shampoo info but,
I have a lot of pain when I open my eyes at night after I have been asleep. the redness can be very bad and I feel after reading your information on the condition that part of my problem are my eye lids that lie on top of my lashes.  I feel since there is not much air reaching the lash are, this is causing it to  continue.  Can eyelid skin condition be a cause and cause continuing problems for this condition?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Blepharitis can cause the eyelashes to fall out or turn in and rub against the eye. It can also irritate the eye while asleep and cause pain during the night or on awakening.

Steroids drops or ointment are helpful but should not be used for longer than 3-5 weeks due to numerous side effects.

An inexpensive and relative safe antiobiotic ointment such as bacitracin or erythormycin at bedtime is often helpful as is using warm compresses on the eye and artificial tears on awakening.

Thera-tears Sterio-Lid eyelid cleaner is a more effective cleaner of the eyelids but more expensive than baby shampoo.

JCH III MD

[ZUIDEMAPAL]

That did not answer my question about having heavy eye lids that are noticable in my viewing sight.
They make my eyes tired and can they add to the problem of blepharitis?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Heavy lids that are thick and saggy is called dermatochalasis or may be blepharo-pthosis.

That condition is corrected by surgery called blepharoplasty.

You will need to see an Eye MD physician ophthalmologist ideally one that specializes in oculo-plastic surgery.

JCH III MD

[ZUIDEMAPAL]

Thank you