Keeping Lids Clean

Inflamed eyelids, also known as blepharitis, is something that many people suffer from at some point during their lives. It's a commonly occurring eyelid inflammation, often associated with a bacterial eye infection, certain sorts of skin conditions, or dry eyes.

Usually, symptoms include redness, itching, burning, the feeling of a gritty or foreign body in the eye, tearing and some crustiness in or around the eye. Blepharitis can sometimes be problematic to deal with, because it's chronic.

The good news is that there are a number of things you can do to deal with blepharitis and make sure your eyes stay clean and healthy. Firstly, apply a warm compress to your closed eyelid to facilitate loosening the crust that may have formed on your eyelids and eyelashes before you go ahead and clean your eyes. The heat from the washcloth will also dislodge any blocked residue in your eyelids' oil secreting glands. When you begin treatment, you'll need to repeat this several times every day for approximately five minutes every time. Later on, you can apply the compress for about five minutes each day.

Thorough eyelid washing is essential to blepharitis treatment, so you should use a commercial lid scrub or whatever product your optometrist recommends. Make sure to lightly massage the outside of your eyelids and all residue should be rinsed off after the cleansing process.

Although it may be uncomfortable, blepharitis isn't actually contagious at all and for the most part, does not lead to any long-term harm to your eyesight, so make an appointment with your optometrist about how to maintain clean and healthy eyelids.