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Medical Author:

Andrew A. Dahl, MD, FACS

Andrew A. Dahl, MD, FACS

Andrew A. Dahl, MD, is a board-certified ophthalmologist. Dr. Dahl's educational background includes a BA with Honors and Distinction from Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, and an MD from Cornell University, where he was selected for Alpha Omega Alpha, the national medical honor society. He had an internal medical internship at the New York Hospital/Cornell Medical Center.

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Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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In this Article

• What is blepharitis?
• What causes blepharitis?
• What are the symptoms and signs of blepharitis?
• How is blepharitis diagnosed?
• What are complications of blepharitis?
• What is the treatment for blepharitis?
• What is the prognosis for blepharitis?
• Blepharitis At A Glance
• Find a local Eye Doctor in your town
• Blepharitis Index

Good hygiene (regular cleaning of the area) can control signs and symptoms of blepharitis and prevent complications. Good eyelid care is usually sufficient for treatment. Such a routine needs to be convenient enough to be continued lifelong to avoid relapses, as blepharitis is often a chronic condition. One episode, however, does not signify that you have a lifelong condition.

If your blepharitis is linked to an underlying cause such as dandruff or rosacea, treating those conditions may alleviate the blepharitis.

In patients who have multiple episodes of blepharitis, the condition rarely disappears completely. Even with successful treatment, relapses are common. Taking the time to devote extra attention to good hygiene at those times may help to control the condition.

• Blepharitis is inflammation of the eyelids.
• Signs and symptoms of blepharitis include red, irritated, itchy eyelids, and the formation of dandruff-like scales on the eyelashes.
• The cause of most cases of blepharitis is a malfunction of the oil glands of the lids, although allergies, infections, and systemic diseases can also cause blepharitis.
• In many cases, good eyelid hygiene and a regular cleaning routine can control blepharitis. In other instances, medications may be required.