Blepharitis is a common eye condition where your eyelids are red, swollen, irritated, and itchy. It can cause crunchy dandruff flakes on your lashes.

Blepharitis can be uncomfortable. But it is not contagious and usually does not cause permanent damage to your eyes.

The main treatment for blepharitis is to clean your eyelids regularly and keep them crust-free. Blepharitis doesn't usually go away completely, but you can take steps to control your symptoms. Talk to your eye doctor about the cause of your blepharitis and the best ways to treat it.

Common symptoms of blepharitis are:

• Feeling like something is in your eye
• Burning or stinging eyes
• Watery eyes
• Itchy eyes
• Sensitivity to light
• Red and swollen eyes or eyelids
• Tears that are foamy or contain small bubbles
• Dry eyes
• Crispy eyelids or eyelashes when you wake up

Blepharitis can also cause more serious problems, such as:

• Blurry sight
• Eyelashes falling out
• Eyelashes growing in the wrong direction
• Swelling of other parts of the eye, such as the cornea

You're at higher risk for blepharitis if you:

• Dandruff - flaky patches of skin on your scalp or face
• Rosacea - a skin condition that causes redness and bumps, usually on your face
• Greasy skin
• Allergies that affect your eyelashes

Most of the time, blepharitis occurs because you have too many bacteria on your eyelids at the base of your eyelashes. Having bacteria on your skin is normal, but too many bacteria can cause problems. You can also get blepharitis if the oil glands in your eyelids become blocked or irritated.

There are 2 types of blepharitis. You may have 1 type of blepharitis, or you may have both types at the same time.

Anterior blepharitis. Anterior blepharitis affects the outside of your eye, where your eyelashes attach to your eyelid. It usually happens from bacteria on your skin or from dandruff on your scalp or eyebrows. Allergies or mites (small parasites) can also cause anterior blepharitis, but this is rare.

Posterior blepharitis. Posterior blepharitis affects the outside of the inner rim of the eyelid - the part that touches your eye. This type of blepharitis occurs when the oil glands in your eyelids become clogged. Common skin conditions such as rosacea and scalp dandruff can cause posterior blepharitis.

Your eye doctor can check for blepharitis by performing a physical eye exam. During the examination, your doctor will examine your eyes, eyelids and eyelashes closely. They can use a bright light or a special magnifying glass.

Blepharitis can lead to other eye problems, including:

• Stye . & Nbsp; A stye is a red, painful bump on the eyelid caused by a blocked oil gland.
• Chalazion . A chalazion is a hard, painless lump on the eyelid caused by a blocked oil gland. This often happens when you have a stye that won't go away. It can cause your eyelid to swell and turn red. A chalazion often goes away on its own.
• Dry eyes . Oil and flakes can build up in your tear film (a thin layer of tears on the surface of your eye). This can make your eyes feel dry. Or your eyes may feel watery or watery because your tears are not working properly. Read more about dry eyes .
• Corneal damage . In severe cases, blepharitis can damage your cornea (the clear outer layer on the front of your eye). This can happen due to swelling or irritation in your eyelids or eyelashes growing in the wrong direction.
• Chronic (long-lasting) red eyes . Blepharitis can cause the white part of your eye to always look red.

What is the treatment for blepharitis?