Blepharitis overview
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Blepharitis is inflammation of the eyelids. It is characterized by inflammation of the eyelid margins. Blepharitis may be classified according to the anatomic location of the disease into 2 subtypes: anterior and posterior. Additionally blepharitis may be classified based on the duration of symptoms into acute or chronic.[1] Blepharitis is caused by an overgrowth of the bacteria that is normally found on the skin. .[2] Common causes of blepharitis include bacterial infections, dysfunctional meibomian glands, allergies (less common), and Demodex folliculorum (small parasitic mites).[3] Blepharitis is usually asymptomatic until the disease progresses. As it progresses, the patient begins to notice a foreign body sensation, and eyelid crusting. Blepharitis can frequently be improved but are rarely eliminated. If left untreated, sever blepharitis may cause alterations in the eyelid margin, loss of eyelashes, scarring of the eyelids, conjunctivitis, corneal involvement, superficial keratopathy, and ultimately blindness. Common complications of blepharitis include loss of eyelashes, Hordeolum, chalazia, corneal ulcer, and conjunctivitis. Blepharitis is associated with a favorable long-term prognosis..[4] Physical examination of patients with blepharitis is usually remarkable for irritated eyelid edges, hard crusting of the lashes or greasy appearing flake, entropion, ectropion, poliosis, and diffuse conjunctival injection.[5] Laboratory tests are not often required in patients with Blepharitis. In general, blepharitis is diagnosed based on typical patient history, skin and eye examination, and characteristic slit-lamp biomicroscopic findings. However, cultures of the eyelid margins and eyelid biopsy may be indicated for patients who have recurrent anterior blepharitis with severe inflammation, as well as for patients who are not responding to therapy.[5][6] Eyelid hygiene and regular cleaning are the mainstay of therapy for blepharitis. Antimicrobial topical therapy may be indicated in some cases depending on the causative pathogen and the underlying cause.[7]
Blepharitis usually causes redness of the eyes and itching and irritation of the eyelids in both eyes. the appearance is often confused with conjunctivitis and
Classification
Blepharitis may be classified according to the anatomic location of the disease into 2 subtypes: anterior and posterior. Additionally blepharitis may be classified based on the duration of symptoms into acute or chronic.[1]
Pathophysiology
Blepharitis is caused by an overgrowth of the bacteria that is normally found on the skin. It is usually due to bacterial infection or seborrheic dermatitis. 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.[2][8]
Causes
Common causes of blepharitis include bacterial infections, dysfunctional meibomian glands, allergies (less common), and Demodex folliculorum (small parasitic mites).[3]
Differentiating Blepharitis from other Diseases
Blepharitis must be differentiated from allergic contact dermatitis, conjunctivitis, trichiasis, dry eye syndrome, keratitis, hordeolum, chalazion, rosacea, and sebaceous carcinoma.[9]
Epidemiology and Demographics
Blepharitis is one of the most common ocular disorders encountered in clinical practice. Although blepharitis is one of the most common ocular disorders, epidemiological information on its incidence or prevalence within defined populations is lacking. Up to 20,000 per 100,000 adults over the age of 45 report some discomfort from blepharitis and meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).[10]
Risk Factors
Common risk factors in the development of blepharitis are dry eye syndrome, dermatologic conditions (acne rosacea, seborrheic dermatitis), demodicosis (chronic blepharitis), lice, and allergies.[11][12][13]
Screening
Screening for blepharitis is not recommended.
Natural History, Complications and Prognosis
Blepharitis is usually asymptomatic until the disease progresses. As it progresses, the patient begins to notice a foreign body sensation, and eyelid crusting. Blepharitis can frequently be improved but are rarely eliminated. If left untreated, sever blepharitis may cause alterations in the eyelid margin, loss of eyelashes, scarring of the eyelids, conjunctivitis, corneal involvement, superficial keratopathy, and ultimately blindness. Common complications of blepharitis include loss of eyelashes, Hordeolum, chalazia, corneal ulcer, and conjunctivitis. Blepharitis is associated with a favorable long-term prognosis. Severe blepharitis is rarely associated with permanent alterations in the eyelid margin or vision loss from superficial keratopathy, therefore these patients have a poor long term prognosis.[4]
Diagnosis
History and Symptoms
A detailed and thorough history from the patient is necessary. Specific areas of focus when obtaining a history from the patient include history of smoking, use of retinoids, prior history of acne, rosacea, and Seborrheic dermatitis. Common symptoms of blepharitis include red eye, red swollen eyelids, Itchy eyelids, burning sensation, crusting or matting of eyelashes in the morning, light sensitivity, blurred vision, and oily skin.[14][15]
Physical Examination
Physical examination of patients with blepharitis is usually remarkable for irritated eyelid edges, hard crusting of the lashes or greasy appearing flake, entropion, ectropion, poliosis, and diffuse conjunctival injection.[5]
Laboratory Findings
Laboratory tests are not often required in patients with Blepharitis. In general, blepharitis is diagnosed based on typical patient history, skin and eye examination, and characteristic slit-lamp biomicroscopic findings. However, cultures of the eyelid margins and eyelid biopsy may be indicated for patients who have recurrent anterior blepharitis with severe inflammation, as well as for patients who are not responding to therapy.[5][6]
Other imaging findings
Posterior blepharitis overlaps with meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). Dynamic meibomian imaging (DMI) can be used to obtain a distinct picture of the entire everted inferior tarsal plate in a patient with blepharitis.[16][17] There are no electrocardiogram, X ray, CT scan, MRI, and ultrasound findings associated with Blepharitis.
Other diagnostic studies
Other diagnostic studies for blepharitis include Slit lamp examination, tear break up time (TBUT), and measurement of tear osmolarity.[17][18][19]
Treatment
Medical Therapy
Eyelid hygiene and regular cleaning are the mainstay of therapy for blepharitis. Antimicrobial topical therapy may be indicated in some cases depending on the causative pathogen and the underlying cause.[7]
Surgery
Surgical intervention is not the first-line treatment option for patients with blepharitis.[7][20]
Primary Prevention
There are no established method for primary prevention of Blepharitis. However, Good self-hygiene and anti-dandruff shampoo may help to prevent blepharitis.[21] [22]
Secondary Prevention
Secondary prevention strategies following blepharitis include good self-hygiene, using anti-dandruff shampoo, removing eye makeup before bedtime, avoiding eyeliner.[23]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Cheung J, Sharma S (2000). "Ophthaproblem. Blepharitis". Can Fam Physician. 46: 2393, 2400. PMC 2145002. PMID 11153404.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 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.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Lemp MA, Nichols KK (2009). "Blepharitis in the United States 2009: a survey-based perspective on prevalence and treatment". Ocul Surf. 7 (2 Suppl): S1–S14. PMID 19383269.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 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.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Jackson WB (2008). "Blepharitis: current strategies for diagnosis and management". Can J Ophthalmol. 43 (2): 170–9. doi:10.1139/i08-016. PMID 18347619.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 McCulley JP, Shine WE (2000). "Changing concepts in the diagnosis and management of blepharitis". Cornea. 19 (5): 650–8. PMID 11009317.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Geerling G, Tauber J, Baudouin C, Goto E, Matsumoto Y, O'Brien T; et al. (2011). "The international workshop on meibomian gland dysfunction: report of the subcommittee on management and treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction". Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 52 (4): 2050–64. doi:10.1167/iovs.10-6997g. PMC 3072163. PMID 21450919.
- ↑ Dougherty JM, McCulley JP (1986). "Bacterial lipases and chronic blepharitis". Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 27 (4): 486–91. PMID 3957566.
- ↑ Mathers WD, Choi D (2004). "Cluster analysis of patients with ocular surface disease, blepharitis, and dry eye". Arch Ophthalmol. 122 (11): 1700–4. doi:10.1001/archopht.122.11.1700. PMID 15534133.
- ↑ Macsai MS (2008). "The role of omega-3 dietary supplementation in blepharitis and meibomian gland dysfunction (an AOS thesis)". Trans Am Ophthalmol Soc. 106: 336–56. PMC 2646454. PMID 19277245.
- ↑ McCulley JP, Dougherty JM (1985). "Blepharitis associated with acne rosacea and seborrheic dermatitis". Int Ophthalmol Clin. 25 (1): 159–72. PMID 3156100.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Bowman RW, Dougherty JM, McCulley JP (1987). "Chronic blepharitis and dry eyes". Int Ophthalmol Clin. 27 (1): 27–35. PMID 3818198.
- ↑ Pelletier JS, Stewart KP, Capriotti K, Capriotti JA (2015). "Rosacea Blepharoconjunctivitis Treated with a Novel Preparation of Dilute Povidone Iodine and Dimethylsulfoxide: a Case Report and Review of the Literature". Ophthalmol Ther. 4 (2): 143–50. doi:10.1007/s40123-015-0040-4. PMC 4675729. PMID 26525679.
- ↑ PubMed Health (2009) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMHT0023008%7C Accessed on July 13, 2016
- ↑ Schaumberg DA, Nichols JJ, Papas EB, Tong L, Uchino M, Nichols KK (2011). "The international workshop on meibomian gland dysfunction: report of the subcommittee on the epidemiology of, and associated risk factors for, MGD". Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 52 (4): 1994–2005. doi:10.1167/iovs.10-6997e. PMC 3072161. PMID 21450917.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Driver PJ, Lemp MA (1996). "Meibomian gland dysfunction". Surv Ophthalmol. 40 (5): 343–67. PMID 8779082.
- ↑ Tomlinson A, Bron AJ, Korb DR, Amano S, Paugh JR, Pearce EI; et al. (2011). "The international workshop on meibomian gland dysfunction: report of the diagnosis subcommittee". Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 52 (4): 2006–49. doi:10.1167/iovs.10-6997f. PMC 3072162. PMID 21450918.
- ↑ Bachmeyer C, Bégon E (2013). "Chronic blepharitis". Neth J Med. 71 (5): 259–63. PMID 23799315.
- ↑ Qiao J, Yan X (2013). "Emerging treatment options for meibomian gland dysfunction". Clin Ophthalmol. 7: 1797–803. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S33182. PMC 3772773. PMID 24043929.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Guillon M, Maissa C, Wong S (2012). "Eyelid margin modification associated with eyelid hygiene in anterior blepharitis and meibomian gland dysfunction". Eye Contact Lens. 38 (5): 319–25. doi:10.1097/ICL.0b013e318268305a. PMID 22890229.
- ↑ Beare JM (1969). "Blepharitis and related conditions". Proc R Soc Med. 62 (1): 5–7. PMC 2279072. PMID 4236660.