Blepharitis pathophysiology

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sara Mehrsefat, M.D. [2]

Overview

Blepharitis is caused by an overgrowth of the bacteria that is normally found on the skin. It is usually due to seborrheic dermatitis or a bacterial infection. Both may occur at the same time. Allergies and lice that affects the eyelashes may also cause blepharitis, although these causes are less common. People who have blepharitis have too much oil being produced by the glands near the eyelid. This allows bacteria normally found on the skin to overgrow.[1][2]

Pathophysiology

Pathogenesis

Anterior blepharitis

The exact pathogenesis of anterior blepharitis is unknown, but suspected to be multifactorial. In most blepharitis cases, the eyelids are colonized with bacteria, usually Staphylococcus aureus, Corynebacterium, or Staphylococcus epidermidis. Bacterial lipase changes meibomian gland secretions, increasing cholesterol concentration and creating an environment that promotes bacterial growth and proliferation. Bacterial toxins, mattering, and enzymes can also create inflammation. Allergic response to bacterial antigens, mostly staphylococcal antigens, may also cause blepharitis.[1][2]

Posterior blepharitis

Posterior blepharitis is often associated with skin condition, such as rosacea. Rosacea is associated with plugging and hypertrophy of the sebaceous glands. Since the meibomian glands are modified sebaceous glands. Meibomian gland dysfunction is characterized by functional abnormalities of themeibomian glands and altered secretion of meibum. The altered meibomian gland secretions result in an impaired lipid layer of the tear film and instability of the tear film. The abnormal secretions also have a direct toxic effect on the ocular surface. Additionally, the altered lipid composition provides an environment that promotes bacterial growth. Demodex folliculorum small parasitic mites that live in hair follicles, sebaceous glands, and meibomian glands may caused or contributed to chronic blepharitis. This theory is still controversial. Demodex infestation has been implicated in rosacea.[3][4]

Associated Conditions

Blepharitis often is associated with systemic diseases, such as:[5][6]

Blepharitis also is associated with ocular diseases, such as:

Gross Pathology

On gross pathology, lid margin swelling, misdirection of lashes, loss of lashes, oily or greasy deposits on lid margins, crusting of anterior lid margin, lid margin hyperaemia, and conjunctival hyperaemia are characteristic findings of blepharitis.[7]

Microscopic Pathology

On microscopic histopathological analysis, hyperkeratinization of the meibomian gland ductal epithelium, perivascular lymphohistocytosis, mononuclear cellular infiltrates, and spongiosis in eyelids (superfeicial dermis) are characteristic findings of seborrheic blepharitis. On microscopic histopathological analysis, nongranulomatous inflammation with neutrophils, acanthosis, or parakeratosis are characteristic findings of staphylococcal blepharitis. On microscopic evaluation, Demodex mites may reveal on epilated eyelashes of patient with chronic blepharitis.

Images

The following are gross images associated with blepharitis.


References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Bunya VY, Brainard DH, Daniel E, Massaro-Giordano M, Nyberg W, Windsor EA; et al. (2013). "Assessment of signs of anterior blepharitis using standardized color photographs". Cornea. 32 (11): 1475–82. doi:10.1097/ICO.0b013e3182a02e0e. PMC 3947496. PMID 24055901.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Dougherty JM, McCulley JP (1986). "Bacterial lipases and chronic blepharitis". Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 27 (4): 486–91. PMID 3957566.
  3. Bhandari V, Reddy JK (2014). "Blepharitis: always remember demodex". Middle East Afr J Ophthalmol. 21 (4): 317–20. doi:10.4103/0974-9233.142268. PMC 4219223. PMID 25371637.
  4. Viswalingam M, Rauz S, Morlet N, Dart JK (2005). "Blepharokeratoconjunctivitis in children: diagnosis and treatment". Br J Ophthalmol. 89 (4): 400–3. doi:10.1136/bjo.2004.052134. PMC 1772603. PMID 15774912.
  5. McCulley JP, Dougherty JM (1985). "Blepharitis associated with acne rosacea and seborrheic dermatitis". Int Ophthalmol Clin. 25 (1): 159–72. PMID 3156100.
  6. Nemet AY, Vinker S, Kaiserman I (2011). "Associated morbidity of blepharitis". Ophthalmology. 118 (6): 1062–8. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2010.10.015. PMID 21276617.
  7. Benitez-Del-Castillo JM (2012). "How to promote and preserve eyelid health". Clin Ophthalmol. 6: 1689–98. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S33133. PMC 3484726. PMID 23118519.
  8. Wikipedia (2016) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blepharitis#/media/File:Infant_with_blepharitis_on_the_right_side.jpg%7C Accessed on July 12, 2016
  9. Wikipedia (2016) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blepharitis#/media/File:Infant_with_blepharitis_on_the_right_side.jpg%7C Accessed on July 12, 2016

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