BLEPHARITIS - Lid hygiene advice for patients

You can find more patient information and guidelines in detail, on The Eyes and Vision Specialist library. Please click HERE to see resources on Blepharitis.

Introduction

Blepharitis is not sight threatening, but can be particularly troublesome since it can recur. There are several different types of blepharitis, all of which are due to inflammation of the eyelid margins, sometimes combined with blockage of the meibomian glands. These glands open onto the edges of the lids and produce oil which is an important component of tears.

YOU can help relieve the irritation by some or all of the following measures, as instructed by the doctor or nurse. These should be performed TWICE daily, followed by instillation of drops and ointment (if prescribed). Not all patients require medication.

The doctor or nurse will instruct you as to which of the following steps and preparations are appropriate for your type of blepharitis. The regimen described will help to control your condition. It is not a cure. It will take 4-6 weeks before treatment starts to be effective. Perseverance is essential.

Treatment

Hot Compresses

hold a clean flannel soaked in comfortably hot water against the (closed) eyelids for 5 minutes. (You will need to reheat the flannel in hot water as necessary when it cools). This melts the oils in the blocked glands.
NEVER share flannels with others.

Lid Massage

Using a finger / cotton bud firmly stroke the skin of the lids towards the lashes, i.e. downwards for the top lid and upward for the bottom lid. Massage the whole width of the eyelids. This helps unblock the meibomian glands and expresses the oils.

Cleaning

Clean away any crusts that are present on the eyelids particularly around the roots of the lashes using fresh cotton buds dipped in

• cooled, boiled water only
• sodium bicarbonate solution (preparation)
• diluted baby shampoo (preparation)
  
  
• Do use a bud only once
• Do use several buds per eye
• Do NOT dip a used bud into you solution
• Do NOT use buds from eye to eye
• Do NOT clean inside the lids

Drops

Apply eye drops before any eye ointment prescribed and as often as instructed by the doctor. Instructions on how to put in drops are available.

Ointment

Apply ointment as often as prescribed and always to the outer edge of the eyelids

Antibiotics

Some forms of blepharitis require a course of antibiotic tablets, sometimes for several weeks. These should be taken as instructed. If they cause any side effects, stop the tablets and consult your General Practitioner as soon as possible.

Preparation INSTRUCTIONS

Sodium bicarbonate solution

1. Add a quarter teaspoon of Sodium Bicarbonate to a cup of cooled, boiled water
2. Mix thoroughly
3. Prepare a fresh solution each day

Diluted baby shampoo

1. Dip the tip of a clean cotton bud into baby shampoo
2. Then mix it into half a cup of cooled, boiled water
3. Prepare a fresh solution each day

Moorfields Eye Hospital patient information.