{"id":6791,"date":"2019-06-03T05:37:00","date_gmt":"2019-06-03T05:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=6791"},"modified":"2021-06-11T16:24:56","modified_gmt":"2021-06-11T16:24:56","slug":"14-most-common-symptoms-of-blepharitis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/14-most-common-symptoms-of-blepharitis\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Most Common Symptoms of Blepharitis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Blepharitis is an inflammation of the eyelid. This can be caused by numerous different things and can present in a number of different ways, making it sometimes difficult to diagnose and easy to miss.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Examples of causes of blepharitis include allergic reaction, malfunction of the glands, bacterial infection, or more. Each of these will have slightly different symptoms and might be best treated in slightly different ways.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As with all things, being able to quickly identify the cause of your symptoms is crucial if you wish to continue with the very best treatment and thereby quickly deal with the problem. In this post, we\u2019re going to look at some of the different symptoms of blepharitis so that you can easily tell if you are suffering from the condition, or if something else might be ailing you.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1 Red Swelling At the Front of the Eyelid<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are two types of blepharitis as described by doctors. These are anterior blepharitis and posterior blepharitis<\/a>. Anyone who studied biology at school should remember that these terms refer to \u2018front\u2019 and \u2018back\u2019 respectively.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As such, anterior blepharitis describes swelling and pain that is found at the front edge of the eyelid just where the eyelashes attach to the skin. This type of blepharitis is more commonly caused by bacteria, specifically staphylococcal blepharitis. It can also sometimes be caused by dandruff from the scalp and eyelids, or occasionally by the use of makeup.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2 Red Swelling in the Corners of the Eye<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Blepharitis can also affect the back, where the edge of the eyelid touches the eyeball. This is called posterior blepharitis and if you have any difficulty remembering which is which, just think that \u2018antennae\u2019 are on the front of the head, hence \u2018ant\u2019 means front!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In both cases, you might find that the skin looks red and that there is a visible red lump. This can be noticeable when closing and opening the eyes as well, rubbing against the surface and feeling almost as though something is stuck in the eye.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Posterior blepharitis can occur more often due to the meibomian glands \u2013 the glands which provide the oil for the tear film. When these get aggravated, this can lead to uncontrolled bacterial growth. Dermatological conditions such as rosacea <\/a>and scalp dandruff can also play a role here.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suffice to say that both types of blepharitis can occur for a number of different reasons.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3 Difficulty Opening the Eyes<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another symptom of blepharitis that can actually have a number of different causes is discharged which causes the eyes <\/a>to seal closed during the night. This is light sleepy-dust, or \u2018eye boogers\u2019, which are produced due to the normal function of the tear duct. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, when this tear duct stops behaving normally, you\u2019ll find that it causes a build-up of discharge. Eventually, this can become so substantial as to seal the eyes closed overnight, making it very hard to open them again in the morning. They might also look as though caked in wax or some other foreign substance when you first survey yourself in the mirror.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To open your eyes, try gently massaging the area to break up the crust and then you can open your eyes cautiously. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the mucus has been produced but not to that full extent, then it might not cause the eyes to get sealed shut, but could collect in the eyelashes giving the appearance of lots of small flecks caught in those hairs.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4 Skin Around the Eyes Flakes<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Bacterial blepharitis, in particular, can cause the appearance of flaky and scaly-looking eyes. This can be aesthetically unappealing and can also contribute to a feeling of itchiness and discomfort<\/a>. What\u2019s unfair about all this, is that when you then go to scratch your eyes, you\u2019ll actually be likely to make the flaking worse.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This can result in something of a vicious cycle \u2013 where you itch because of the symptoms and this then causes them to become worse \u2013 making you itch again. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s important therefore to try and resist the urge to rub the eyes when you feel the need. Breathe and try to distract yourself with other things, which can help to distract your attention away and seemingly minimize the severity of the irritation.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5 You Feel Ill In Yourself<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Again, if you are suffering from bacterial blepharitis in particular, then you might notice that you feel somewhat unwell in yourself. This is due to the effect that any infection can have on the body. Your system will attempt to drive out the invading bacteria<\/a>, which it will do by elevating your heart rate, causing swelling, making you feel nauseous (potentially causing vomiting), and generally making you feel \u2018under the weather\u2019. A fever is also a common symptom of blepharitis.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For all these reasons, you should try to rest yourself and take it easy while you are suffering from this condition. Keep in mind that it is not just a skin condition in some cases, but actually an illness. Try to monitor your condition. Keep drinking water to make sure that you don\u2019t become dehydrated due to fever, and use meds to reduce the severity of the painful symptoms. If you find that your blepharitis also causes congestion in your sinuses, then this extra pressure and streaming can exacerbate the other irritating side effects.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You probably look a little bit like you just stepped out of a zombie movie, so embrace the opportunity to stay at home and hide!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6 Your Eyes Feel Dry<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Dry Eye<\/a>\u2019 describes a number of symptoms that can occur as a result of blepharitis and which are unpleasant in their own right. This means that the tear ducts are no longer producing enough tears \u2013 or are producing \u2018low quality\u2019 tears. The result is that the eyes are no longer properly moisturized and healthy, and your eyes will thus feel dry and uncomfortable. This is then only going to exacerbate the discomfort caused by the flaking, and the swollen lump on your eyelid \u2013 making it even more tempting to rub those eyes! This is only likely to make them appear more and more red, which is another symptom of dry eye.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other symptoms include sensitivity to light, and of course difficulty with crying! If you\u2019re normally someone very weepy, then you might suddenly look like you have a much more stony disposition.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7 Running Eyes<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Just as blepharitis \u2013 particularly posterior blepharitis \u2013 might cause dry eye, so too can it cause your eyes to stream and run. This excessive wateriness can actually be quite embarrassing, as it may lead people to believe that you are crying, or otherwise emotional<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s more, is that this constant running can actually irritate the eyeballs even further, and even make it difficult to see. It\u2019s a nuisance but it\u2019s something that shouldn\u2019t cause any long term or serious harm \u2013 so it\u2019s worth just tolerating it as much as possible.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8 You Blink A Lot<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Finally, you might find that you blink a lot as a result of your condition. This can actually be caused by numerous different things.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For one, the swelling on your eyelid can be interpreted by your brain <\/a>as something that\u2019s stuck in your eye, so you might blink continuously as you try to \u2018remove it\u2019. What\u2019s more, is that you might find your eyelashes have begun growing in strange directions. This can look unusual but also be uncomfortable. If you dry eyes, then blinking is also a natural reaction to try and rehydrate them. All of the unwanted \u2018debris\u2019 caused by blepharitis can finally also have a similar effect as you have bits of skin and pus getting stuck in your eye.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blinking can also be caused by photosensitivity, which is another common symptom of blepharitis. Here, you might find that the dome-shaped outer layers of your eyes (corneas) have been affected by the bacteria or the swelling. This then means that you don\u2019t have quite the same ability to protect your eyes from the sun, making them feel very sensitive. So perhaps you\u2019re less zombie, more vampire?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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