Blepharitis Lident Ignition; blepharitis

Inflamed eyelids: symptoms, causes and treatment

Lid margin inflammation, also referred to as blepharitis, includes various manifestations of eyelid inflammation, which are due to different causes. The disease often occurs at the same time as other inflammatory processes on the eye. Often a good eyelid hygiene and naturopathic measures help to relieve the symptoms. If symptoms do not resolve or if the condition is chronic, a visit to the doctor and further treatment will be required.

contents

• Inflamed eyelids: symptoms, causes and treatment
• A short overview
• definition
• symptoms
• causes
• diagnosis
• treatment
• Naturopathic treatment

A short overview

The following summarizes the most important facts about the symptoms and therapeutic measures. The further article describes the clinical picture of blepharitis comprehensively and provides further information.

Typical complaints

Most sufferers suffer from swollen and red eyes (eyelids). Often, there is a burning eye and itching. In certain and usually infectious forms of disease it comes to sticky eyelids and eyelashes, especially after getting up. Other symptoms may be added to the eyes and skin. The severity and course varies, ranging from very mild discomfort to severe eye damage.

Lidrandentzündung leads to red and swollen eyelids. (Image: Konstantin Savusia / fotolia.com)

What can you do?

In acute inflammation, a quick relief of the symptoms is often already achieved by careful, daily hygiene measures on the eye. The healing process can also be supported by medicinal plants such as eyebright. If the symptoms do not diminish, they reinforce or return again and again should a medical examination take place. It may be necessary to take further therapeutic measures, including antibiotics or antivirals if necessary.

definition

The Greek term blepharitis describes the so-called Lidrandentzündung (rare Lidentzündung) as a medical generic term for various forms of inflammation of the eyelids, and in particular their edges. If the respective cause or the exact location of the inflammation is known, the disease can be further specified. For example, an inflammation exclusively in the area of ​​the angle of the eyelids is called angular blepharitis and can thus be delimited as a special form. Many other forms of illness are distinguished in this way.

The cause of an inflammation of the lid can be infections. But other non-infectious causes are also possible, such as external stimuli, eye dysfunction or allergic reactions and other disorders. In addition to an acute occurrence, it can also lead to chronic courses with recurring or permanent complaints.

symptoms

Depending on the causes, the respective manifestation and the degree of severity, different complaints may occur in case of inflammation of the lid margin. The symptoms are similar to those of dry eyes or other eye infections. Also, conjunctivitis (concomitant conjunctivitis, blepharoconjunctivitis) and a dry eye often occur simultaneously with the inflammation of the eyelids.

Inflammations on the eye often cause severe and annoying eye itching and burning eyes. (Image: sebra / fotolia.com)

Most types of blepharitis show swollen and red eyes (lids). This, together with frequent eye-burning and itching, sometimes results in a strong foreign body sensation in the eye. It is also often reported by glued eyelids and eyelashes after getting up. In the further (chronic) course, these signs of disease may increase or even more discomfort may appear in certain, more severe forms.

Accordingly, the list of all possible symptoms is long. The following symptoms are typical and relatively common:

• red eyelids and eyes,
• Swelling on the lid margin and on the eye,
• burning and itchy eyes,
• Foreign body sensation in the eye,
• Photosensitivity (photophobia),
• epiphora,
• Dandruff on the edge of the eyelid and lash line,
• Glandular secretions and greasy deposits on the edge of the eyelids, which cause the eyelids and eyelashes to stick together and crust,
• Malocclusion (trichiasis) or loss of eyelashes (madarosis), as well as waxing of eyelash-like hair from the meibomian glands (distichiasis),
• Eye fatigue and visual impairment.

causes

Blepharitis can have very different causes that determine the form and course of the disease. Thus, a distinction is often made between an acute and chronic, but also between an infectious and non-infectious Lidrandentzündung.

The eyelids contain different glands. The secretions are part of the tear fluid and grease the eyelids. Due to bacterial infections, congestion or dysfunction of the glands, it is relatively common to pathological changes in the sense of Lidrandentzündungen. The most common causes include infection with staphylococci, seborrhea (overproduction of fats by sebaceous glands) and a malfunction of the meibomian glands. While staphylococci are an acute bacterial infection, the other two causes are non-infectious and are associated with chronic blepharitis. But even external stimuli or other underlying diseases can cause or promote inflammation of the eyelids.

Depending on the cause and symptoms, there are various forms and manifestations of blepharitis. (Image: Artemida-psy / fotolia.com)

Acute blepharitis

In most cases, bacterial infections are the cause of acute, ulcerative inflammation of the eyelid. Most common are infections with staphylococci, but other bacteria or viruses (for example, herpes simplex virus) come as pathogens into consideration. As a rule, bacterial infections show yellowish and encrusted eyelids. Viruses are the cause of the disease, it is more likely to secretion of clear, liquid secretions.

Staphylococci are part of the normal skin flora, also on the edge of the lid. If the immune defense is weakened, the normal colonization can be disturbed and out of balance. Various enzymes and toxins produced by the increased number of staphylococcal bacteria can lead, inter alia, to disturbances of the tear film and the sebum-producing glands, which in turn can cause inflammation on the eye.

If allergic reactions trigger acute blepharitis, they are usually not ulcerative on the edge of the lid, but cause severe itching and rashes, such as in atopic blepharodermatitis (eczema on the eye).

Chronic blepharitis

Chronic blepharitis is usually a malfunction of the meibomian glands. These glands produce an oily liquid (lipids) that regulates and slows down the evaporation of tear fluid. If the function is disturbed to the extent that the lipid composition is changed, it also leads to changes in the secretion and thus clogged gland exits. Many sufferers of this meibomian gland dysfunction in the context of a recurrent barley grain (hordeolum) or hailstone (chalazion) are possible sequelae. Another consequence of glandular dysfunction is faster tear evaporation, which can lead to dry eyes (keratoconjunctivitis sicca).

The barley grain is a common consequence of eyelid firing. (Image: Elroi / fotolia.com)

In many cases, the skin disease rosacea has been associated with meibomian gland disorder and eyelid inflammation. Typical symptoms of rosacea are red spots on the face, as well as scaly skin. In ocular rosacea, the skin near the eye and on the eyelids is affected, possibly without any further symptoms on other skin areas.

On the dandruff on the edge of the lid, a secondary bacterial infection often develops in the further course. If LID is present with dandruff, it is called blepharitis squamosa. Likewise, excessive fat production (seborrhea) can lead to gland congestion and corresponding inflammation of the lid margin (seborrheic blepharitis). Many sufferers also suffer from seborrheic dermatitis or acne (acne rosacea).

Not infrequently, several causes are responsible for the development of Lidrandentzündung. If, in particular, seborrhea, staphylococcal infection and dry eyes (Sicca syndrome) are present, this is also referred to as the so-called triple S syndrome.

Furthermore, external stimuli are considered to be non-infectious risk factors that may favor the development of blepharitis. For example, the skin and eyes may be irritated by drafts, extreme temperatures, smoke, dust or chemical substances (in cosmetics), resulting in an increased risk of disease.

In rare cases, it is suspected that parasites (such as eye mites or pubic lice) could be involved in the development of blepharitis (Blepharitis parasitaria).

diagnosis

For the exact diagnosis of an eye inflammation, a detailed examination of the eye and the edges of the eyelids is made during the specialist examination after the patient interview (anamnesis). In most cases, a slit lamp is used for this purpose, which makes it possible to observe the eye and the pathological changes in a high magnification. Whether it is an infection, can usually be clarified by means of a smear. However, it is not always possible to make a precise diagnosis. Thus, the causes of an inflammation of the lid margin, even with a close examination, are sometimes unknown.

If a medical examination is necessary, a slit lamp is usually used to examine the eye. (Image: mmphoto / fotolia.com)

treatment

Lid margin inflammation is a relatively common condition and does not always require a doctor's visit or medical treatment. Often the disease is only symptomatic and quickly healed without further medical care. A daily, thorough Lidrandhygiene and measures from the Pflanzenheilkunde (Phytotherapie) lead in many cases to a fast relief of the complaints.

In principle, medical advice should be sought when symptoms appear (despite their own actions) over several days, or increase, and affect the affected too much. Even with constantly recurring and permanent inflammations, a medical examination and, if necessary, appropriate therapy should take place.

More elaborate therapeutic measures are usually necessary and effective when infections with bacteria or viruses have caused acute ulcerative blepharitis. Appropriate eye drops or ointments containing antibiotics or antivirals are usually used. In case of acute allergic inflammation of the lid margin, treatment with cortisone may be considered.

The treatment of chronic blepharitis focuses mostly on the sequelae or symptoms and causes of triggering (skin) diseases. For example, tear substitutes can help alleviate the symptoms of dry eyes.

Eye hygiene plays a major role in healing

In order to best support the healing process in case of eye inflammation, daily hygiene and care measures for the eyes and the face are indispensable. It is recommended that you first take these measures before any further medical treatment. In addition, they are important accompanying measures even during therapy.

Properly performed, daily hygiene of the eyelid margins helps relieve discomfort and prevent chronic inflammation of the eyelid margin. (Image: irinastrel123 / fotolia.com, own editing heilpraxis.de)

Patients are advised to put a warm (not too hot) cloth or warm gel mask on their closed eyes for about ten minutes each day, then gently massage their eyelids with their hands (and cotton wool). It should always be painted in the direction of the eyelashes, that is the upper lid from top to bottom and the lower lid from bottom to top. If there is a yellow-white secretion, it should be carefully removed with cotton wool. If stubborn secretion or encrustation is present, olive oil cleaning, a mild solution of baby shampoo and warm water, or a special cleaning solution from the pharmacy can help clean the lid. Used cloths or masks must be thoroughly cleaned before further use. The hands must also be carefully washed before and after this measure and disinfected if necessary. An improvement in the symptoms often occurs in the daily implementation of these hygiene measures only after three to four weeks. Everyday eye hygiene also helps to prevent chronic blepharitis.

Generally, conventional cosmetics and skin care products such as soaps and creams with preservatives and irritants are not recommended. Face and eye cleansing should only be done with clean, warm water.

Naturopathic treatment

With careful and careful application, naturopathic treatment measures can be effective in promoting healing, especially in the chronic forms of blepharitis. As with other eye infections, extracts from the medicinal plant eyebright (Euphrasia) are mainly used. The extracts of this plant contain antibacterial and anti-inflammatory substances. Mostly it is used in the form of homeopathic eye drops. Eyebright tea can also be drunk for supportive, internal use.

The medicinal plant eyebright (Euphrasia) has anti-inflammatory effects on eye complaints. (Image: Alois / fotolia.com)

In addition, in naturopathy also compresses from fennel tea or chamomile tea are used. Here, however, a certain caution is necessary to avoid a possible carryover of existing pathogens or cause, for example, by an allergic reaction no adverse effect.

Several studies have suggested that unsaturated fatty acids may have anti-inflammatory effects. Paying attention to a healthy diet with sufficient polyunsaturated fatty acids (especially omega-3 fatty acids) can help alleviate the symptoms of inflamed and dry eyes. (jvs, cs; updated 09.10.2018)

Also read in this context:
stye
hailstone
Dry eyes
Inflamed eyes
Conjunctivitis
blepharospasm