Dry Eye Clinic
Blepharitis causes eyelids to become red, swollen and inflamed. It doesn’t normally cause serious damage to the eyes, but it may be very uncomfortable. It tends to be a long-term condition, therefore you’re likely to need ongoing treatment. Severe cases do have a risk of causing long-term damage, but fortunately, these are quite rare.
Types of Blepharitis
There are two main types of blepharitis – anterior and posterior.
Anterior blepharitis
When the front (anterior) part of the eyelids becomes sore, this could be caused by an infection, allergy or a general sensitivity to bacteria present on the eyelids. It can also be related to some scalp conditions, such as very dry or oily skin and dandruff.
Posterior blepharitis
Also referred to as meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is when the glands that make the oily part of your tears become blocked. Both kinds of blepharitis can cause dry eye or make it worse if you have already got it. Many people will have a combination of blepharitis, meibomian gland dysfunction and dry eye.
Risk Factors & Symptoms
Blepharitis is more common in people over the age of 50, but anyone can develop it. This is often because the glands that make the normal tears, particularly the oily part of the tears, tend to become less effective as you get older.
Blepharitis can cause crusting and white scales may stick to the roots of eyelashes. Your eyelid edges may become red and your eyes will feel gritty, burning, sore or itchy. If you experience these symptoms, make an appointment with your optometrist.
Treatment
Previously we were restricted to treating blepharitis by relying on patient’s ability to manage their lid hygiene through sterile pads, individual moist wipes and separate cleaning solutions. While these might relieve the symptoms, they don’t really get to the root cause of the problem.
Now at Pinder & Moore, we can offer the first and only clinician treatment for blepharitis – BlephEx. BlephEx is a revolutionary patented handpiece, used to very precisely and carefully, spin a medical grade micro-sponge along the edge of patients eyelids and lashes, removing scurf and debris and exfoliating their eyelids.
Treatments are typically repeated at regular intervals (usually every 4 months) depending on the severity of the disease. By eliminating the inflammatory cause of blepharitis, the overall health of the eyelid is improved. Patients can then begin to produce more of their own tears and finally enjoy a life free from the chronic and irritating symptoms associated with blepharitis and its subsequent dry eye disease.
Standard
One appointment where patients receive an assessment to determine the underlying cause of their dry eye problems.
Treatments provided include one Blephex treatment and one product from our blepharitis / dry eye product range
Private: £75.00
Comprehensive
Three appointments where you receive an initial assessment to determine the underlying cause of their dry eye problems followed by a range of treatments tailored to address the underlying causes of their dry eye problems.
Each appointment includes: one Blephex treatment and one product from our blepharitis / dry eye product range
Private: £150