{"id":6785,"date":"2019-06-03T05:30:00","date_gmt":"2019-06-03T05:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=6785"},"modified":"2021-06-11T16:12:59","modified_gmt":"2021-06-11T16:12:59","slug":"14-early-warning-signs-of-blepharitis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/14-early-warning-signs-of-blepharitis\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Early Warning Signs of Blepharitis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Blepharitis is swelling of the eyelid, which in turn can cause a number of unwanted irritations. This can be itchy, painful, and unattractive. And in some cases, it can go on for a very long time! The good news is that this is very often easy to treat, and in some cases, it might be as simple as switching to a different skincare product or perhaps starting a course of antibiotics prescribed by your doctor. Whatever the case, if you can start the treatment sooner, then you can solve the issue sooner \u2013 and suffer less irritation and embarrassment as a result.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The good news is that if you are vigilant, then there are some early warning signs that you can catch early to get a good indication that you may have blepharitis. In this post, we will examine what some of those are to help you get the jump on it!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1 Eyes Sicking in the Morning<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the most common symptoms of blepharitis is that it causes the eyes to gum together. It is normal and natural for the tear ducts to create <\/span>some <\/span><\/i>mucus <\/a>which is what causes the appearance of \u2018sleepy dust\u2019 in the morning. However, when that tear duct becomes infected, this can then cause the tear duct to malfunction and thereby produce more of this discharge. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The result is that you might wake up and find your eyes are completely covered in the stuff \u2013 and that this can make it very difficult to open your eyes. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You should find that by gently rubbing the area to break the substance up, you will be able to open your eyes eventually. If not, then bathing in a little warm water will do the trick. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you notice this early on, then it might be a sign of impending trouble in the eyelids!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2 Soreness<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Soreness <\/a>is one of the most obvious symptoms of blepharitis, and of course, this is going to be mainly localized pain around the eye. There are two types of soreness which can occur as a result of blepharitis \u2013 soreness in the eye itself (which can feel like burning or stinging), and soreness on the actual eyelid where the swelling is occurring. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Either way, the best thing to do if you notice this is to look into eye drops or use a cool pack. This can help to ease the discomfort a little and may also help to reduce any redness that you notice.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soreness can be an early warning sign that all is not well, so if the pain persists, take a trip to your physician and they may be able to help.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the blepharitis is caused by an infection, then you might notice that the pain radiates out from the area a little and that the whole region feels sore.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3 Red Eyes<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Red eyes<\/a> are caused by blepharitis for a number of reasons. One is that blood is rushing to the area to try and encourage recovery and healing. This, in turn, is what causes the swelling and helps to combat any infection, but it is also what makes the eyes start to appear red.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A number of other factors can also contribute to this. One is that you may be rubbing your eyes. Even if you haven\u2019t consciously noticed yourself doing this, you may be rubbing your eyes during the night, and this can lead you to wake with red eyes.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

More likely, is that the condition has prevented your tear ducts from creating adequate amounts of tears, which in turn leads to \u2018dry eye\u2019. This makes the eyes appear red as well.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4 Dry Eyes<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As mentioned, dry eyes<\/a> can occur as a result of irritation to the meibomian gland. This is most likely in what is referred to as posterior blepharitis \u2013 posterior meaning back. Here, the redness and soreness is located specifically around the back of the eyelid where it brushes on the eyeball. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not only can this irritate the eyes directly, but by affecting the gland and preventing tears, it can cause the eyes to become dry and painful, and to start looking angry and red.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before you jump to the conclusion that you have blepharitis, however, keep in mind that a number of things can cause red or dehydrated eyes \u2013 with other common culprits being general tiredness, or a lack of hydration. Drink plenty of water and try to get good sleep, and see if the condition improves.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If not, then using eye drops is one of the best ways to ease this discomfort.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5 Streaming Eyes<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While blepharitis <\/a>can cause the eyes to become dry, the very same thing (infection or irritation of the meibomian gland) can also cause overactivity. That is to say that the eyes stream and produce large amounts of tears which run down the face and leave the individual looking like they\u2019ve just watched Titanic.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This can be less of a painful issue than the dry eye, but it can also be irritating in its own right: potentially causing the eyes to become sore as well, and obscuring normal vision.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6 Tiredness\/Fever<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You might assume that blepharitis is a skin condition and nothing more. However, blepharitis simply describes the symptoms rather than explaining the actual cause. That is to say that <\/span>many <\/span><\/i>things can cause blepharitis, including infection.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have an infection of your tear ducts or hair follicles, then this won\u2019t only cause redness<\/a>, irritation, and swelling \u2013 it might also cause you to feel the symptoms of an infection. This might include a fever, it might include general fatigue, and it might include aching joints.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you notice yourself getting a fever along with the redness, and if that pain radiates out, then an infection is very likely to be the cause. In this case, you should speak with your doctor about getting a course of antibiotics, which will help you to drive the bacteria out of your system. Make sure to rest, keep drinking lots of water, and keep an eye on your temperature.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7 Photosensitivity<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This term simply means sensitivity to light. In other words, you might find yourself squinting or even feeling pain when you look indirect light.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is most likely to be the case if you are suffering from specifically the type of blepharitis called posterior blepharitis. That\u2019s because this impacts the meibomian gland, which in turn causes irritation <\/a>to the cornea \u2013 the lens that covers the eye and which helps to refract the light as it hits the retina. Without this, the light will look much brighter and you might find that it can be very uncomfortable.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the short term, one solution is to wear shades. Of course, you can\u2019t wear shades all of the time and so an alternative is to use blue-blocking glasses which only block the harshest spectra of the lightwaves.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8 Unusual Eyelashes<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Finally, another sign you might notice early on, and which might give some indication as to the arrival of blepharitis, is that your eyelashes begin growing in unusual ways. You might notice that some stick out at unusual angles for instance, or that you are missing large numbers of them.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is due to blepharitis affecting the hair follicles<\/a>, or due to the swelling and the redness causing the hairs to grow differently. This symptom is most likely to be present in anterior blepharitis \u2013 which is blepharitis affecting the very front of the eyelid, right where the eyelashes grow. An ingrown hair is, in fact, one of the most common causes of this type of blepharitis to begin with.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best way to get an idea of what is causing your symptoms, is to look at them together. Many things can cause your eyelashes to grow differently for instance, but if you notice that you also have redness in your eyes, that they feel dry, and that you have become extra sensitive to light, then you should consider that this might be the cause. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And if you\u2019re still not sure? Speak with your physician \u2013 they will always have the best idea. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Skin Flaking Around the Eyes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the early warning signs of the condition is a drying out of the skin around the eyes. This drying effect may start as high as the eyebrows, and affect both sides of the eyelids. The condition does not spread any further down the face than the bottom of the eyelids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The drying out of the skin in this area increases inflammation and redness in the eyelids, resulting in the onset of blepharitis. As the condition progresses, the skin continues to dry out, resulting in the development of flaking skin on the eyelids. This flaky skin has a similar appearance to dandruff and heightens symptoms of eye irritation in the patient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The condition may eventually reach a point where the patient has to seek medical treatment to stop the inflammation. Doctors will examine the patient and administer anti-inflammatories and painkillers <\/a>to curb severe irritation. Keep your eyelids hydrated with a neutral moisturizing cream to prevent flaking.
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10. A Feeling of Grit in the Eye<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In the initial stages of blepharitis, the patient may start to notice that they develop a feeling like they have grit or sand in their eye. This feeling occurs due to the clogged pores <\/a>scratching on the surface of the eyeballs. While the clogged pores are tiny, they still have a significant impact on creating sensations of irritation in affected individuals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some patients make the mistake of thinking that they have something trapped under their eyelids. In these cases, it may be the morning crusts trapping under the eyelids. These sensations of irritation may affect the vision of the patient, causing them pain on the surface of their eyes that forces them to squint their eyes when they focus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Affected individuals may gain some relief from these symptoms by cleaning the affected eye in the morning, and using lubricating eye drops throughout the day. Eye drops help to keep the surface of the eyeball clean, helping you avoid any bacterial or viral infections.
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11. Itchy, Swollen Eyelids<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Patients who develop blepharitis notice their symptoms occur gradually over the course of a few days or weeks, depending on the severity of the condition. The first symptoms to show up are symptoms of inflammation and mild irritation in the eye. The patient may complain that they feel like a foreign body is under the eyelid, scratching at the surface of the eyeball.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the condition progresses, the eyelids begin to swell and turn red with inflammation. Shortly after that, the patient starts to experience the onset of itching in the eyelids. Patients who experience intense itching symptoms may gain some relief from using a cold compress to calm the localized inflammation in the eyelids. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In severe cases, doctors may recommend the use of anti-inflammatories and painkillers <\/a>to manage the effects of the irritation. In most cases of blepharitis, patients experience a fluctuation in the intensity of their symptoms, with some days being worse than others.
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12. Styes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the complications involved with blepharitis is the development of a stye<\/a>. When the eyelids are inflamed, the blocked pores are an easy target for bacterial infection. When bacteria enter the oil glands, it causes localized inflammation that results in the formation of a tiny red bump.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the condition progresses, the bump grows in size and may take on the appearance of a pimple on the edge of your eyelid. However, a style may continue to grow in size until it starts to present symptoms of discomfort in the patient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In most cases, a stye goes away by itself in a few days. However, patients who are dealing with blepharitis may experience an extended infection period due to the complications presented by blepharitis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doctors may prescribe medicated drops to kill the invading bacteria and eliminate the stye. Most patients who use the drops experience the stye disappear within 48-hours.
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13. Chalazion<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The second most common complication related to blepharitis is the development of chalazion on the edges of the eyelids. The development of chalazion is common on the upper eyelid, towards the outer edge. People who use sunscreen <\/a>or oily makeups may end up blocking the pores in the eyelids, resulting in the development of a Chalazion. The chalazion is a bump, filled with pus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In most cases, these chalazia disappear by themselves after a few weeks. However, patients with blepharitis may see an extension in the duration of the disorder. Unlike a stye, chalazion does not occur due to bacterial infection, and they rarely cause any inflammation symptoms in the eyelid. Some patients may complain that the chalazion causes symptoms of irritation that feel like the bump is scratching their eyeball.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the pus inside the chalazion turns solid, a doctor may opt to remove the mass in a minor surgery performed at their office.
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14. Risk Factors<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Some people are at a higher risk of developing blepharitis than others. If you notice you fall into any of the high-risk categories mentioned below, examine what changes you can make to reduce developing the condition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    People who have naturally oily skin are at higher risk of developing blepharitis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    Women who use makeup are at a higher risk for developing the condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    People who use sunblock are at higher risk for blepharitis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0People who have dandruff<\/a> are more likely to develop blepharitis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    People who sleep on dirty pillowcases may increase their risk of eyelash mite infestation that causes the onset of blepharitis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022    People with allergies to eye drops or contact lens solution are at a higher risk of developing blepharitis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you find yourself in the high-risk group mentioned above, you can take preventative steps to reduce the severity of your symptoms. Use a neutral moisturizing cream to keep your eyelids hydrated. Change your shampoo to a neutral, organic brand.
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