Key Takeaways
- Blepharitis doesn’t spread through touch, sharing towels, or being close to someone.
- It comes from things happening inside your own body, and it isn’t linked to a sexually transmitted infection.
- Anterior blepharitis affects the outer lid edge, while posterior blepharitis affects the inner lid edge.
- Red lids, morning crusting, and a gritty feeling are common signs.
- Warm compresses and gentle lid cleaning can help manage flare-ups.
Why Your Eyelids Feel Crusty and What It Means
You wake up, and your lashes feel crusty. Your eyes burn, and your eyelids look pink along the edges. Naturally, you start wondering if you should keep your distance from your family, toss the hand towels in the wash, or visit our team at Tutt Street Optometry.
Blepharitis shares symptoms with viral conjunctivitis, but blepharitis isn’t contagious. You can’t catch it from someone, and you can’t pass it to the people you live with.
Blepharitis Doesn’t Spread from Person to Person
Blepharitis doesn’t travel through touch, shared pillows, or sitting close to someone on the couch.
Why So Many People Think It’s Contagious
Blepharitis causes red, crusty eyelids and swelling, which lines up with what many people picture when they think of an eye infection. In fact, blepharitis is often confused with pink eye, a different condition that is often contagious.
What Blepharitis Actually Is
Blepharitis is swelling along the eyelid margin, right where your lashes meet your lid. It shows up in both kids and adults, though it gets more common as you get older.
Anterior Blepharitis
This form of the condition affects the outer edge of the eyelid, at the base of your lashes. Bacteria, dandruff, lash mites, and reactions to makeup can all contribute to anterior blepharitis.
Posterior Blepharitis
This form impacts the inner structures of the lid, and it usually involves the oil glands. It’s often linked with rosacea or eczema, so if your skin flares up, your eyelids may follow.
Symptoms & Warning Signs to Watch For
The symptoms of blepharitis tend to be more annoying than dramatic, and many people live with them for months before booking an appointment. Common symptoms include:
- Red lid margins with a greasy look along the edges
- Crusts or flakes on the lashes, usually worse first thing in the morning
- A gritty feeling, like sand under the lid
- Watery eyes
Is Blepharitis a Hygiene Problem?
Good eyelid hygiene reduces your risk of anterior blepharitis substantially, but it isn’t the whole story for posterior blepharitis. Plenty of people with careful routines still end up dealing with blepharitis.
How Blepharitis & Dry Eye Are Connected
Your oil glands feed the tear film that coats your eyes. When those glands are filled with poor-quality oil, your tears dry out faster. That’s when the burning and blurriness between blinks show up.
Blepharitis is a major contributor to dry eye, which is why we design dry eye treatment plans that consider both conditions.
Care Options & Daily Habits That Help
Warm compresses and gentle cleaning form the foundation of good eyelid hygiene. Wash your eyelids gently with baby shampoo and a cloth, or presoak cleansing wipes that are available for purchase at your optometry office, to wipe along your lash line. Hypochlorous acid sprays can also be helpful tools, but the friction of wiping generally assists in a better clean.
A warm compress is also an important piece of posterior blepharitis care; 40-degree warmth for 10 mins is required to penetrate the eyelid structures and melt the contents of the oil glands in order to help improve oil quality in the tear film. A washcloth does not work well because it does not hold the temperature for long enough. Warm compresses can be purchased from your optometry office if needed.
Vitamins may also benefit. There is evidence to support the use of omega-3 and vitamin D; consider speaking with a pharmacist about whether these supplements are appropriate for you.
In more serious cases, in-office oil treatments and prescription eyelid ointments are also options.
Does Blepharitis Ever Go Away?
Blepharitis is often a long-term condition, but it’s ultimately manageable. Sticking with your hygiene routine even when your eyes feel good can help reduce how often you get flare-ups.
When to See an Eye Doctor in Kelowna
Remember, blepharitis shares many symptoms and signs with conjunctivitis (which is infectious and contagious). If you experience any of the following, visit your optometrist right away:
- Significant crusting that keeps your eyelids glued together
- Mild crusty eyes that don’t get better
- Irritation that keeps returning week after week
- Swollen or red-appearing eyelids
- Watery eyes
- Your vision turns blurry
- You notice lash loss
- Light sensitivity or sore eyes
Our team at Tutt Street Optometry can examine your eyes, your eyelids, and your tear film to find out what’s going on. From there, we can suggest treatment options. Book your appointment today and let us help you find a routine that keeps your eyes comfortable.
