What Is Blepharitis? Eye Doctor Explains

Recently told you have blepharitis? Board certified ophthalmologist, Dr. Rupa Wong explains it all in this video. #blepharitis #redeyes #drrupa

In this video, she discusses the symptoms of blepharitis. You might have blepharitis if you have:
-Red, itchy eyes
-Mucous discharge from your eyes
-Eyes that tear a lot
-Eyes that feel dry as if there's something in them
-Scaling and crusting of the eyelids
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As well as treatment strategies to combat blepharitis, including:
-NuLids
-Lipiflow
-IPL

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[cherylbrookman]

I have suffered with blepharitis since in my forties - ok am now 68. I have found what works for me is Vicks vapo rub. As soon as I feel a flare starting I carefully apply the Vicks to my eyelid being careful not to get it into the eye. Your eyes will water like crazy and your nose will run. The more intense the flare the more my eyes water. I only have to apply this once and it clears up. I wash off the Vicks after my eyes stop watering and go about my business. Since I started doing this my flare ups only happen about every two to three years.

[gracelight]

Very true! I was diagnosed at the start of this year (along with periocular dermatitis and rosacea), and have seen about a 70% reduction of blepharitis symptoms after doing the following:
1. I threw out all of my makeup, which was ANCIENT anyway & I stopped using makeup for a year (and that severely depressed me, but there was just no point, and i needed to give my face/eyes space to heal)
2.I changed my diet, to not include gluten & dairy, going onto a more meat based diet, with low acidic foods (this alone cleared up my rosacea)
3. every night using an eye heat mask for 10 minutes
4. morning and night wiping eyes with a cleanser specifically for the eye to get rid of makeup/debris (even though i was not using makeup) and using a cotton bud soaked in it to "brush across" the lash lines
5. using a more expensive eyedrop from the opticians instead of the optrex ones on the supermarket shelves for dry eyes.
6. taking omega 3/cod liver fish oil (in liquid form, which apparently has better "bioavailability" than capsules)
7. swimming and more cardio (not sure if relevant, but figured it would help my body with overall circulation, because i had a lot of inflammation in other parts of my body including knees, which are a bit better now.)

After this video i'm thinking of adding a more demodex mite-targeted cleanser too.

I am now slowly, trying to reincorporate makeup again, but this time i'm going about makeup hygiene like a makeup artist would. making sure between every use to "sanitise" products with a specialised spray they use to cleanse between clients, and not "double dipping" my mascara wand, but instead using disposable wands and things like that!
I just watched Dr Rupa's video on tightlining with eyeliner, so will avoid that to start too.

it's been a LOT of work, but am happy to finally start stepping back into the make up world again.

fingers crossed!

[davebecker]

I have that right now and I feel so awful and I won't go out anymore I look awful with it I'm glad I could put a name to what I have

[priscillasilverhouse]

Exceptional video! I've been struggling with chronic blepharitis for two years. I've seen many doctors, even an eyelid specialist. Had steriod injections, antibiotics, told to do compresses and cleaning of the lids but not exactly how to do it or that i should compress 1st then clean and massage after. I think they assume I know exactly what to do. The management is in the specific details. Thank you for breaking it down and explaining it so detailed.

[sarahlopez]

This video was great. I suffer from blepharitis. And I use to always think oh it’s just allergies. But I have been using baby shampoo on my eyes too and it works for me.

[marilynbara]

So excellent! A model of how a YouTube video should be done!! Thankfully I don’t have this condition but someone I know does. We watched this video together and I’m grateful and impressed - such helpful info, so well presented. Thank you!

[itaysror]

I was just diagnosed with this, so lucky to find this video.. helps me understand clearly what my doctors don't have the courtesy to explain. Thank you!

[just-a-person_nothing-more]

I've had Blepharitis for around 6 or 7 years now and no one has really told me about it so this video was nice to watch

[annchurchill]

I have had goopy eyes in the morning and was getting ready to schedule an appointment with an eye doctor. You saved me the trip and a lot of anxiety. THank YOU!

[grannygirl]

Great video! I have a better understanding of this issue for 16 years. Never once has my ophthalmologist informed me of this. Thank you for posting. And thank God for you tube.

[brandonpettitt]

Thank you!!! I’m a COA & work in Ophthalmology with some amazing doctors & as I’m sure you know, we have the “Bleph” discussion what feels like a million times a day. I feel like you touched on so many highlights that patients have a hard time understanding & love that you emphasized lid hygiene as part of one’s daily skin care routine, because it really should be. Most beauty products & cleansers all say to avoid the eye, of course meaning not to get any of the harsh products into the eye itself, but your eyes & lids are skin too & deserve a little TLC like the rest of your body. There are product formulations out there for even the most sensitive of skin. Also love that you touched on Lipiflow & IPL. IPL has been a life changer for me, both medically for my own dry eye & Bleph, but also aesthetically for both facial & ocular Rosacea. I will highly recommend this video going forward. Keep the facts coming Doctor, I’ll be “keeping an eye out” for new videos… Every pun intended. lol 😂

[featherweightswoon]

I have dry eye and suffer from occasional eye discharge/irritation. What really works for me is Cetaphil GENTLE foaming facial cleanser, which you can find at any drugstore. It is great as you can massage it right into your eyelash area without any stinging or discomfort. The “Gentle” formula (not the regular foaming cleanser, as it has less harsh ingredients) is so gentle for my eyes that when it flares up, cleaning my eyes twice/day with this, clears it up very quickLy. As well, make sure you use a COTTON washcloth and change it frequently. I find that the synthetic facial makeup remover facecloths, irritate my eyes more and I can’t use them. I’ve struggled with this for years and I find that this helps. Thank you for your interesting video.

[normagarcia]

Before I watch your video I feel hopeless but now I m learning how I deal with this bacteria…thank you so much 🙏🏻

[ejbooks]

Very informative. Thank you for presenting this so it is easily understood. My daughter suffered from this and now I understand why. Her specialist did not explain the causes and remedies. Love your videos😳.

[chrissie]

Before having both cataract ops the nurse told me to rub my closed eyes with Johnson and Johnson baby lotion and then use a cotton bud to wipe it off. Cleared it up in no time and safely had cataract ops with NO problems. 17 yrs ago. Had it an odd time some then but quickly goes away. 👍

[patriciadaidone]

Great job on this video!! I just wanted to share a couple of things: I have noticed exacerbated symptoms with the cosmetic ingredient cyclopentasiloxane in eye primers, concealers, pencil liners, eye cream, etc. Not necessarily an allergy, but I believe it holds oil/bacteria in the skin ( I’m an esthetician ). Hope this helps someone looking for answers. Cosmetics can be tricky!

[sherrisimmons]

Thank you so much for this video! It was so informative. I never heard of blepharitis, and now I really feel like I know how to treat it.

[savvireads]

Ever since I've been cleansing my eye(lid)s daily with Blephasol, my blepharitis has been almost 100% under control :) Sometimes my eyelid gets a little inflamed if my mascara is too old, or I've been scratching my eye lid with my nail, or something else that gets bacteria in them, cleansing them with Blephasol usually helps clearing within a day again! For hardcore infections, a warm cloth is indeed the way to go, after which I cleanse again. I'm so glad I've got it under control now, because it had been a problem for me for a good few years 😅 (I have sensitive skin by the way, and probably rosacea, but my problems occurred in my early twenties.)

[karenkushla]

I was just hospitalized for blepharitis. I had IV vancomycin and then had oral and ophthalmic steroids and antibiotics. My eyes were so swollen and dry that I also abraded my cornea. It took about 2 weeks to heal completely.

[pam]

Had this for 25 years but thank goodness now its great, I couldn't wear mascara for years! I can now, shampoo on eyelids I was advised to do didn't work for me. I was 34 when my eyes started with this.