Have you noticed that you might be suffering from inflamed eyelids, otherwise known as blepharitis? It's a commonly occurring eyelid inflammation, sometimes linked to a bacterial eye infection, some types of skin conditions, or dry eye symptoms.
Generally, 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. It can often be hard to treat, because it's usually chronic.
The good news is that there are numerous options available to handle blepharitis and guarantee that your eyes stay clean and healthy. Start with putting a warm compress, such as a washcloth, to your outer eyelids to facilitate loosening the crust that may have formed on your eyelids and eyelashes before you go ahead and clean your eyes. The warmth from the compress will also get rid of any remaining residue in your eyelids' oil secreting glands. When you begin treatment, you may find you need to repeat this several times throughout the day for about five minutes every time. Afterwards, you can use the compress for about five minutes each day.
Cleaning your eyelids is essential to treating blepharitis, so it's best to use a proper eyelid 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.
Even though it's unpleasant, blepharitis isn't contagious and generally, doesn't lead to any enduring damage to your vision, so make an appointment with your eye care professional about the best way to keep your lids clean and healthy.