Blepharitis is a common condition that typically occurs when tiny oil glands near the base of the eyelashes, known as meibomian glands, become clogged and coated with bacteria and oily particles.
Blepharitis can develop at any age. Though it doesn’t cause any permanent vision damage, it does tend to be a chronic condition that requires ongoing treatment to manage.
Eye care experts divide blepharitis into two types: anterior blepharitis and posterior blepharitis. These conditions develop seperately, so it is possible to have them both at the same time.
- Anterior blepharitis affects the outer part of the eyelid, around the eyelashes, and is caused by a bacterial or viral infection. This is often the result of poor eye hygiene, such as not washing hands before inserting contact lenses, or sleeping with eye makeup on. You may experience thickened, inward-turned, or outward-turned eyelids.
- Posterior blepharitis occurs due to dysfunctioning or clogged meibomian glands, which are responsible for oil production in the eye. Without this oil, your tears may dry out more quickly, leaving your eyes vulnerable to a number of unpleasant and uncomfortable symptoms.
Common Symptoms of Blepharitis
If you have blepharitis, you may find that symptoms are more severe when you first wake up, continuing throughout the morning.
Depending on the type of blepharitis, symptoms may include:
- Itchy, red or sore eyelids
- Swollen eyelids
- Crusty or greasy-feeling eyelashes
- Burning or gritty sensation in the eyes
- Increased light sensitivity
- Abnormal eyelash growth or eyelashes falling out
Contact your optometrist if you experience any of these symptoms, or book a comprehensive eye exam.
Blephex: Relief from Blepharitis
BlephEx is a painless, in-office procedure that takes about 6 to 8 minutes per treatment. Using the patented Blephex hand piece, our Costa Mesa eye doctor will carefully sweep the eyelashes with a disposable medical-grade micro-sponge that spins to remove debris, dirt, bacteria, and toxins. This has been shown to effectively reduce or alleviate blepharitis symptoms for roughly 4 to 6 months, depending on the severity of your symptoms.
After treatment, we will also give you tips for nightly eyelid hygiene so that your eyelids stay clean and healthy between treatments.
BlephEx treatments provide a pain-free, practical answer for patients with eyelid inflammation by alleviating the signs of blepharitis. Overall eye health and quality of life are significantly improved without the chronic and irritating symptoms associated with this condition. To find out more about blepharitis and how Blephex can help, come visit our Costa Mesa eye doctors at South Coast Optometry or give us a call at 714-421-4636 today!
Blephex Q&A
Can BlephEx be used to treat dry eye syndrome?
Dry eye disease and blepharitis often go hand-in-hand, with both conditions sharing many of the same symptoms. Our Costa Mesa eye doctor will test your vision and eye health and consider your medical history so that we can provide a proper diagnosis and recommend the next steps in your treatment regimen.
If you’ve been diagnosed with dry eye syndrome, your eye doctor may include BlephEx as part of a multi-treatment plan to reduce symptoms and provide relief.
How Often Should I Have BlephEx Treatments?
Routine follow-up treatments are essential for maintaining the beneficial effects of BlephEx. Depending on how severe your blepharitis or dry eye is, our Costa Mesa eye care team recommends you come in for a treatment every 4 to 6 months. This routine care helps reduce long-term build-up of dirt and bacteria, and prevents symptoms from recurring.
How Quickly Does Blephex Work?
In most cases, you can expect to feel a reduction of dryness, discomfort, and other related symptoms immediately after treatment. However, if you’ve already sustained significant damage to your tear glands before finding effective treatment, you may not notice any changes to your condition until several weeks after the initial treatment. In more extreme cases, you may even require multiple treatments before seeing an improvement in your symptoms.
What Are The Side Effects of Blephex Treatments?
BlephEx has no side effects beyond temporary post-treatment discomfort, which is generally mild and goes away in less than 24 hours. Some patients also report some light sensitivity and eyelid irritation.