Blepharitis:

The condition of sore, red and inflamed eyelids along with crusty debris at the base of the eyelashes is known as Blepharitis or commonly called as eyelid inflammation. The hair follicles in the eyelashes contain oil glands and when these oil glands become clogged or irritated due to any infection then it triggers inflammation, leading to Blepharitis. The condition of Blepharitis can occur outside the eyes or in the inner corners of eyes. If Blepharitis is left untreated, it can lead to serious eye infection so it is recommended to consult the ophthalmologist immediately. The treatment of Blepharitis begins with thorough eye examination to determine the exact cause of the eyelid inflammation. There are various natural remedies and useful self-care measures that can treat the mild symptoms of Blepharitis and even prevent them from occurring.

Here are some useful natural remedies and self-care measures for treating and preventing Blepharitis:

1. Maintain Eyelid Hygiene:

Maintaining the eyelid hygiene can effectively treat and controls the Blepharitis, only if it is performed correctly and properly. Practicing good eyelid hygiene can also prevent the recurrences of the Blepharitis symptoms. The first step in the hygiene of eyelids is applying warm compresses that melt the blocked residue in oil-secreting glands in the eyelids. The heat from these warm compresses improves the blood circulation which is essential for quick healing. Here’s how you can use warm compress:

• Wash your hands.
• Moisten a clean washcloth in warm water.
• Compress the washcloth and place it over closed eyelids for several minutes.
• After that, gently rub the eyelid margin with placed washcloth before opening the eyes. Don’t rub hard on your eye.
• If you have an infection in both eyes then use separate washcloths for both eyes.
• Follow the instructions of the eye doctor on how often you can use a warm compress and how long to keep it in its place. Usually, it is recommended to use several times per day for about five minutes each time and later on, you need to apply it once daily.

The second essential step in the hygiene of eyelids is the cleansing of eyelids. The suggested steps for cleaning your eyelids include:

• The eye doctor recommends you the cleaning solution or cleaning agent, which may include diluted baby shampoo, warm water, prescription or over-the-counter eyelid cleaner.
• Wash your hands.
• Take a clean washcloth or cotton swab or gauze pad and moisten it with cleaning solution.
• Then, gently rub it around your upper and lower eyelid margins and also on eyelashes, but make sure that the cleaning solution doesn’t get into your eyes.
• Rinse the eye with warm water.
• Repeat same steps for the other eye and use a separate washcloth or swab or pad.
• At the start of the treatment, you can follow the cleansing process 2-4 times a day and then once a day after the symptoms are under control.

Remember, the best way to prevent Blepharitis is to clean the eyes regularly.

2. Castor Oil:

Castor oil is an effective natural treatment for Blepharitis that you can easily try at home. This oil contains ricinoleic acid that works as an anti-inflammatory agent and helps in relieving the symptoms of pain, itching, irritation and burning sensation caused by eyelid inflammation. Here are the steps to use castor oil:

• At first, wash the eyelids and eyelashes with lukewarm water.
• Then, apply a warm compress for five minutes over the eyelid.
• After that, before going to bed, moisten a clean cotton swab with castor oil and apply it on the closed eyelid as well as on eyelashes. It helps to prevent the formation of a crust.
• Next morning, rinse the eyes thoroughly with warm water.
• Repeat these steps once per day for few days.

Make sure that the castor oil is pure and organic.

3. Coconut Oil:

Another useful natural treatment for Blepharitis is coconut oil that is rich in anti-inflammatory properties. It also contains certain other nutrients that help in reducing the inflammation, pain, itching while restoring the health of the eye.

In order to use coconut oil, you need to soak a cotton ball in the oil and then place it directly on eyelid for about 15-20 minutes. After that, rinse the eyes with warm water. Repeat this process at regular intervals for the whole day. This process can also be done before going to bed and the oil can be rinsed off next morning. Olive oil can also be an option if a patient doesn’t have coconut oil.

4. Aloe Vera:

While having an eyelid inflammation, it is important that the eyelids need to be moisturized in order to prevent them from the formation of crusts and flakes. Aloe Vera is greatly helpful in the moisturizing property. Secondly, the anti-inflammatory property of Aloe Vera helps in relieving inflammation, redness, and swelling. It is also useful in fighting the infections. Here are the steps to effectively use Aloe Vera:

• Take an Aloe Vera leaf, cut it and extract its fresh gel. Make sure to use only fresh gel and don’t use over-the-counter lotions containing the gel.
• Apply the gel by using a cotton swab, gauze pad or washcloth on the inflamed eyelid and gently rub it.
• Leave it for around ten minutes and then rinse it off with warm water.
• Repeat the same steps for 2-3 times daily.

5. Petroleum Jelly:

Blepharitis may be caused by lice in the hair or eyebrows and eyelashes, so petroleum jelly is suggested to get rid of them. It is important to treat the underlying cause of lice as other treatment options will not be effective if you don’t take care of lice. Petroleum jelly kills the lice by cutting off the air and suffocating them. See below steps on how to use petroleum jelly to treat eyelid inflammation:

• Wash your hands and apply a small amount of pure petroleum jelly on eyebrows and eyelashes.
• After that, keep the eyes closed for about 20-30 minutes.
• Then, rinse the eyebrows and eyelashes with lukewarm water.
• Repeat this natural remedy once every other day per week as it helps to prevent the recurrence of lice.

For a proper treatment of Blepharitis, consult ophthalmologists at Menger Eye Centers in NYC:

If you need guidelines for using these above-mentioned natural remedies and self-care measures properly and correctly or if the symptoms of Blepharitis are becoming worse then you must consult professional ophthalmologist at Menger Eye Centers. The board-certified ophthalmologists at Menger Eye Centers are highly recommended to provide the best treatment of Blepharitis in Glendale, NYC because they customize a treatment plan according to the conditions and needs of each patient. You will get best results while restoring a healthy vision.