Blepharitis

Blepharitis is a contraindication for most cornea-based refractive surgery techniques, including conventional or wavefront Lasik, All-Laser Lasik, PRK, LASEK, and Epi-Lasik, unless the blepharitis is very mild and/or is fully under control. Blepharitis is a consideration for CK, P-IOL, and RLE, but does not seem to be as critical.

Blepharitis is an inflammation of the eyelids. It is a very common condition that can be associated with a low grade bacterial infection (staphylococcal blepharitis) or a generalized skin condition (seborrheic blepharitis). Blepharitis is seen most commonly in adults.

Factors believed to contribute to blepharitis include abnormalities in oil gland function and an alteration in bacterial colonies that normally live on the skin. Blepharitis is not contagious and cannot be passed from one person to another.

People with blepharitis will have red eyelid margins and persistent ocular irritation, however there are other ocular problems that will have similar symptoms. An ophthalmologist can help definitively diagnose this condition by careful examination of the eyelid margins. In some instances, dry eye symptoms and underlying skin conditions can be associated with blepharitis.

The inflammation around the eyelids characteristic of blepharitis can be improved by increased lid hygiene. Gently scrubbing the eyelid margins with baby shampoo diluted with water can decrease the amount of flaking skin and oil in the area. A cotton tipped applicator or a washcloth wrapped around the index finger can be used to apply the shampoo.

Warm compresses applied to the lids for several minutes a day can also be helpful. In some select cases, your ophthalmologist may also choose to prescribe an antibiotic ointment or drop. Restasis is a cyclosporine eye drop that has been shown to be very helpful for blepharitis.

Blepharitis is a chronic condition that often requires long-term treatment in order to prevent exacerbations.

If you are ready to choose a doctor to be evaluated for conventional or custom wavefront Lasik, All-Laser Lasik, PRK, LASEK, Epi-Lasik, NearVision CK, RLE, or any refractive surgery procedure, we highly recommend you consider a doctor who has been evaluated and certified by the USAEyes nonprofit organization. Locate a USAEyes Evaluated & Certified Lasik Laser Eye Surgery Doctor.

If this article did not fully answer your questions, use our free Ask Lasik Expert patient forum.

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Current Blepharitis and Lasik Medical Journal News...

[Evaluation of NAAGA efficacy in dry eye syndrome]

Related Articles

[Evaluation of NAAGA efficacy in dry eye syndrome]

J Fr Ophtalmol. 2009 Nov;32(9):613-20

Authors: Brignole-Baudouin F, Robert PY, Creuzot-Garcher C, Olmiere C, Delval L, Baudouin C

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of Naabak((R)) eyedrops in reducing inflammation in dry eye syndrome. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This pilot, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel study was carried out in adult patients suffering from moderate dry eye syndrome. Patients were treated for three months with preservative-free NAAGA (Naabak((R))) or with sodium chloride 0.9% without preservative (Larmabak(R)). They received the treatment four to six times a day during the 1(st) month and three to four times a day during the 2(nd) and 3(rd) months. At each visit (D28 and D84), clinical tests were performed as well as a biological evaluation of HLA-DR and MUC5AC expression on conjunctival imprints using flow cytometry. RESULTS: After three months of treatment, the ocular surface symptoms and overall discomfort were improved in patients treated with Naabak(R) and in those treated with Larmabak(R) with no significant difference between the groups. Cytological impression showed a significant decrease in the expression of inflammatory markers, notably antigen HLA-DR, in the Naabak(R) group. CONCLUSION: This study confirms the anti-inflammatory property of preservative-free NAAGA (Naabak(R)) in the context of dry eye syndrome with a similar clinical efficacy compared to sodium chloride solution (Larmabak(R)). Naabak(R) could present an additional advantage compared to artificial tears and could be indicated in the treatment of moderate inflammatory dry eye syndrome.

PMID: 19854539 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]