Blepharitis is a condition in which eyelids get inflamed (swell) with fatty deposits and a bacterial coverage of the eyelid rim close to the base of the eyelashes. This unpleasant condition causes itching, irritation, redness or burning of the eyes. The main reasons for blepharitis are not completely clear, but it can be connected to a bacterial infection of the eyes, dry eye symptoms or rosacea. Posterior blepharitis is a condition resulting from a dysfunction of the lacrimal glands. Blepharitis can cause stye. It can also cause thinned eyelid rim and crusting over it. With this type of blepharitis, tears can even be foamy.
Symptoms of blepharitis include:
- Irritation of the eyelid
- Formation of crusts on the eyelid and eyelashes
- Itching eyes
- Tearing
- Redness of the eyelid rim
- Feeling of burning
- Feeling of a foreign body in the eye