Blepharitis
Medical treatment
 |
| Severe lid margin inflammation in predominantly posterior blepharitis |
Blepharitis is a chronic condition that can never be cured but can usually be significantly improved.
The key to successful treatment is correctly diagnosing whether the eyelid changes are anterior, posterior or both.
Anterior blepharitis
Anterior blepharitis is a dandruff-like condition that responds to treatments similar to those used to treat dandruff. These include:
- Gentle cleaning of the lid margins with a 'no-tears' shampoo
- Old fashioned treatments such as weak bicarbonate solution work well
- Short courses of antibiotics
Posterior blepharitis
Posterior blepharitis is an oil gland dysfunction. Inflammation without infection is common. Posterior blepharitis responds well to therapies used to treat acne such as:
- Hot compresses
- Eyelid massage
- Anti-inflammatory drugs such as Doxycycline
- Steroid eye drops, ointments and injections
- Manual expression
- Omega-3
Omega-3
Omega-3 supplementation is a recognised treatment for posterior blepharitis, reducing inflammation and providing the meibomian glands with essential fatty acids with which to synthesise the oily gland secretions.
Our food contains two types of fatty acids known as Omega-3 and Omega-6. They are essential for our health and as our body cannot manufacture them, must be found in our diet.
Omega-3 is a 'good fat' which is used by the body to both produce anti-inflammatory compounds and block the activity of inflammatory mediators. Omega-6 is a 'bad fat' that promotes inflammation. It is not always possible to decrease diety Omega-6 intake, but adding Omega-3 to your diet is a very effective way to reduce inflammtion.
Beef, dairy products and the vegetable oils found in biscuits and snack foods are high in omega-6. Because our diet is rich in animal and vegetable fats, many New Zealanders suffer from Omega-3 deficiency.
The best sources of Omega-3 are:
- Dark, oily, coldwater fish such as salmon and tuna
- Flaxseed oil, available from health food shops
- Capsules of fish and flaxseed oils, available from pharmacies