Your eyes work hard every day, so when they start feeling itchy, irritated, or even develop crustiness along the eyelids, it’s natural to wonder what’s going on.
One common culprit behind these uncomfortable symptoms is blepharitis.
Although blepharitis flare-ups can appear severe it isn’t contagious and cannot spread between people.
However, following proper eyelid hygiene means being mindful about the products you’re using around your eyes and not sharing personal items like eye makeup, towels, or even contacts, especially during a blepharitis flare-up.
If you’ve been dealing with eye irritation or inflammation, visit your eye doctor for a thorough health examination and management plan tailored to your unique case.
Defining Blepharitis
Blepharitis is a common eye condition that causes eyelid inflammation, specifically at the base of your eyelashes. This condition doesn’t usually affect your vision directly, but the discomfort it causes can make daily life more challenging.
Although blepharitis can cause redness in and around the eye, causing it to appear pink, it’s not to be confused with pink eye (conjunctivitis). The two conditions differ in their underlying causes and while their symptoms may overlap, pink eye affects the white part of the eye whereas blepharitis is localized to the eyelids.
Symptoms of blepharitis often include:
- Red, swollen, or inflamed eyelids
- Watery eyes
- Itchy or burning eyes
- Crusting at the base of the eyelashes
- Gritty or sandy feeling in the eyes
- Greasy-looking eyelids
- Flaking skin around the eyes
Blepharitis develops when the tiny oil glands near your eyelash follicles become blocked or clogged, which can happen from several underlying factors:
- Bacterial overgrowth: Our skin naturally contains bacteria like Staphylococcal that live harmlessly on our skin. An overgrowth of these microorganisms can lead to irritation and inflammation around your eyelids.
- Seborrheic Dermatitis: This skin condition, often associated with dandruff, can impact the oily areas of your body, including the eyelids.
- Rosacea: A chronic skin condition that affects the face, can also increase the likelihood of developing eyelid inflammation.
- Allergic reactions: Allergies to environmental triggers, cosmetics, or skincare products can irritate the eyelids.
- Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD): This chronic condition affects the small oil gland at the base of your eyelashes. When these glands are blocked or clogged, the irritation can contribute to blepharitis and dry eyes.
- Demodex: These are tiny mites naturally found on our skin, but can multiply excessively and lead to irritation along the eyelid margins. This overgrowth can aggravate inflammation and contribute to blepharitis development.
Although blepharitis flare-ups are annoying, the condition itself isn’t life-threatening, but shouldn’t be ignored. Untreated blepharitis can lead to more serious complications, such as:
- Chronic dry eye syndrome
- Styes (painful eyelid bumps caused by infected oil glands)
- Chalazion (a swollen eyelid bump)
- Corneal damage from constant irritation
Can Blepharitis Spread Between People?
There’s no light way to say it, but some blepharitis flare-ups can appear more severe than others.
Fortunately, blepharitis isn’t contagious because it stems from personal factors like blocked oil glands and bacterial imbalances, not germs that “jump” from one person to another. Essentially, an imbalance in the skin’s microbiota can’t be transferred from one person to another.
During a blepharitis flare-up, avoid irritating your eyes further by not wearing eye makeup and taking a break from contact lens wear. In some cases, reintroducing products used during an active flare-up can trigger further inflammation.
Once your flare-up is managed and your optometrist has given you the green light, open a new pair of lenses and replace any old eye makeup.
Although blepharitis isn’t contagious, other eye conditions, such as pink eye or keratitis are. Pathogens can spread through direct contact, like sharing towels or makeup.
Practicing solid eyelid hygiene should become a habit to prevent the risk of spreading these potential pathogens:
- Never share eye makeup or tools like brushes and sponges.
- Wash your hands before putting in or removing contact lenses.
- Use clean towels and pillowcases, replacing them frequently.
- Throw out expired makeup to minimize bacteria buildup.
Managing Blepharitis
The chronic nature of blepharitis means it can’t be “cured” entirely because it’s often linked to underlying factors like bacteria, skin conditions, or oil gland dysfunction that can’t be treated entirely.
For most people, blepharitis tends to persist or recur over time. Keeping up with good hygiene and a few other strategies can make it easier to manage symptoms, reduce flare-ups, and improve overall comfort.
- Daily eyelid hygiene: Keep your eyelid margins clean by gently washing them daily with a warm damp cloth or lid wipes designed for sensitive eyes.
- Warm compresses mask: Place a clean, warm compress or cloth over your eyes for 5-10 minutes and use your fingers to gently massage around the eyelids to loosen blockages in your oil glands.
- Avoid irritating products: Stay away from harsh skincare products, fragranced makeup removers, eye makeup, contact lenses, and anything that might irritate your eyes further.
Eye doctors can recommend advanced treatments for those with persistent or severe blepharitis. These therapies restore meibomian gland function which can be an underlying cause of blepharitis:
- Lipiflow: This dome-shaped goggle device fits over your eyes and uses gentle heat and massage to restore proper gland function along the eyelids.
- Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy: This device reduces inflammation and improves oil gland function by delivering pulses of light and heat to the skin around the eyes.
- ZEST (Zocular Eyelid System Treatment): This treatment uses a unique gel to deeply cleanse the eyelids and lashes, removing debris, biofilms, and other irritants that exacerbate blepharitis symptoms.
Start Your Eyelid Routine
Incorporating an eyelid hygiene routine in your daily life can help manage blepharitis symptoms and prevent future flare-ups.
Connect with our Forest City Optometry team to schedule an appointment if you feel the onset of eye irritation or inflammation. An accurate diagnosis determines the severity of your symptoms to create an effective management plan.
