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Blepharitis

Blepharitis is the medical term for inflamed eyelids. The inflammation is like eczema of the skin, with red, scaly eyelids. You may notice tired, or gritty eyes, which may be uncomfortable in sunlight or a smoky atmosphere. They may be slightly red, and feel as though there is something in them.

The eyelids have tiny glands in them, especially the lower lids. These glands make substances that mix with tears, and help the tears to spread across the eye. This thin layer of tears lubricates the eyes, stops them drying out, and keeps them comfortable. However, as you get older, and particularly if you have dry skin, these glands can block a condition known as Meibomian Gland Dysfunction. As a result, the glands do not make the oils that enable the tears to spread evenly across the front of the eyes. The tears then break up, and dry patches develop on the surface of the eye. These patches make the eyes feel sore or gritty and is termed dry eye.

The correct treatment can alleviate itchy, gritty and sore eyes and eyelids.  Treatment can also help to prevent long-term damage from Blepharitis such as scarring, notching or deformity of the eye lids.

Eye wipes and cleaners products to treat blepharitis and dry eyes used at dry eye clinics at drye eye specialist opticians Buchanan Optometrists, KentThere are many treatment options to help manage blepharitis and prevent future flare-ups. Treatments we reccomend include combinations of special steam goggles, heat, massage, deep clean treatments, laser, punctal plugs,  lubricating drops and gels. Quite often we find that client's current drops or cleaning treatments that they have from the GP or bought over the counter can make symptoms worse rather than better. Some treatments only work in combination with others, so a specialist assesment and tailored prescription can work wonders.

The treatment should make your eyes more comfortable, but there is no magic cure. Even with treatment, your eyes may still have the occasional flare up, but this should be far less frequent than before treatment.

Latest New Blepharitis Treatments

Blephex

Until now treatment for blepharitis has revolved around cleaning and massaging the eyelids with at home treatments. Unfortunately, these treatments can take months to work and have to be repeated very frequently to see any significant improvement. But a new treatment for blepharitis is set to change that.
Blephex is a painless deep clean treatment to the eyelids and meibomian glands that we perform for you in the practice that gives instant and lasting improvement to blepharitis symptoms. Repeated every 6-12 months, Blephex cleans debris, opens and unblocks the meibomian glands and can considerably improve blepharitis symptoms.  Blephex is ideal for persistent cases or where time is an issue and cleaning's hard to comply with.

Blephasteam.

Blephasteam is a unique eyelid-warming device that provides moist and heat therapy to help relieve symptoms of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) and associated eye diseases such as blepharitis, meibomitis, ocular rosacea, chalazion, contact lens intolerance and Dry Eye.

EyeCare Makeup.

Designed for people with dry, sensitive eyes, contact lens wearers and those suffering from Meibomian Gland Dysfunction and Blepharitis. All products are formulated to be free from animal ingredients and chemical additives known to cause allergies or intolerance. Recommended by allergy specialists, dermatologists and ophthalmologists, the products are free from parabens, lanolin, nickel, SLS, cobalt, essential oils and colophane. There really is no kinder way to look good and look after your dry eyes at the same time. Starts at just £6. Pop into the practice to try it out.

If you are suffering from any symptoms of dry eye or blepharitis, we recommend booking into our Dry Eye and Blepharitis clinic so we can diagnose your problem and discuss the best treatments for you. Book your appointment today on 01634 757227.

You can now also reorder your dry eye products online at www.eyestuff.co.uk

"Two years ago I was diagnosed with blepharitis and dry eyes. I was doing everything that I was told to do and throwing all sorts of medication into my eyes, but things were gradually and most definitely getting worse. My left eye had mucous across the surface of the eye, and my right eye was red and running like a tap. I had severe discomfort and pain in my Left eye that I can only describe was like having a red hot brick in my eye.

 Coping with this on a daily basis was most definitely dragging me down physically and mentally. I didn’t feel that I wanted to go out and on occasions didn’t feel safe to drive.

I made the phone call, and due to my symptoms was offered an appointment the same day. I had a consultation with Alisdair who said ‘ we can sort this out for you’. Within a few days of me seeing him, the discomfort and pain had gone. It’s now two months since my first visit and my eyes look and feel so much better. In fact, several people have commented on how good they look." Christine Osbourne, dry eye patient at Buchanan Optometrists