Definition
Blepharitis is an inflammation of the eyelids, in conjunction with which ulcers, crusts or scales may appear along the entire eyelid margin.
Depending on the type of inflammation that develops, three different forms of blepharitis can be distinguished: ulcerative, scaly or seborrheic and hyperemic.
Causes
The causes of blepharitis can be multiple and vary depending on the type of blepharitis that develops.
Ulcerative blepharitis is usually caused by bacterial infections sustained by staphylococci or by viral infections caused mainly by Herpes simplex .
The onset of seborrheic blepharitis, on the other hand, appears to be favored by the presence of disorders such as acne rosacea, seborrheic dermatitis of the face and scalp and dandruff.
In the case of hyperemic blepharitis, however, the causes are very often difficult to identify.
Other disorders that can favor the onset of blepharitis are: alterations in the secretion of the meibomian glands (meibomite), allergies (allergic blepharitis), mite infestations or eyelash lice and various types of conjunctivitis.
Symptoms
The symptoms, of course, can vary depending on the type of blepharitis that develops and depending on the severity of the inflammation.
However, some symptoms are common to all forms of blepharitis and consist of: swelling of the eyelids, eye redness, foreign body sensation in the eye, photophobia, secretions, itching and burning.
In ulcerative blepharitis, in addition, small bleeding ulcers can appear, while in seborrheic blepharitis you can see the formation of greasy scales. Finally, hyperemic blepharitis manifests itself with very general symptoms, such as swelling of the eyelids and redness of the eyes.
Blepharitis can also promote the onset of stye, chalazion, keratitis or keratoconjunctivitis.
Information on Blepharitis - Blepharitis Drugs is not intended to replace the direct relationship between health professional and patient. Always consult your doctor and / or specialist before taking Blepharitis - Blepharitis Drugs.
drugs
The cases in which blepharitis tends to self-purify are quite rare. Most of the times, in fact, this inflammation tends to become chronic and it is necessary to resort to the use of drugs.
The drugs used for the treatment of blepharitis vary according to the causes of the inflammation.
Furthermore, face and eyelid hygiene is essential to promote healing. Therefore, patients must carefully clean their eyelids and face every day - both in the morning and in the evening - in order to remove secretions, sebum, cellular debris, impurities and pollution that can settle and accumulate in correspondence to the eyes, and that could make the healing process is more difficult.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics can be used to treat blepharitis when the inflammation that develops is caused by a bacterial infection. Generally, the bacteria responsible for blepharitis are staphylococci. Antibiotics can be administered topically, or orally, depending on the severity of the infection.
Among the various antibiotics used in the treatment of blepharitis on an infectious basis, we recall:
- Chloramphenicol (Flogocyn ®, Sificetina ®): for the treatment of blepharitis on an infectious basis, chloramphenicol can be administered topically in the form of eye drops or ophthalmic ointment. When using eye drops, the recommended dose is 1-2 drops, to be administered 3-4 times a day, or according to a medical prescription.
- Ofloxacin (Exocin ®): anloxacin is an antibiotic belonging to the class of fluoroquinolones, which can be used to treat blepharitis on an infective basis and meibomite. It is available in the form of eye drops and ophthalmic ointment. When using eye drops, the recommended dose ofloxacin is 1-2 drops, to be administered 4-6 times a day, or according to a medical prescription. When ophthalmic ointment is used, it is recommended to apply 3-4 applications a day, or according to the doctor's prescription.
- Ciprofloxacin (Oftacilox ®, Cetraflux ®): also ciprofloxacin belongs to the class of fluoroquinolones. For the treatment of blepharitis on an infectious basis, ciprofloxacin can be used in the form of eye drops or ophthalmic ointment. When using the latter pharmaceutical formulation, it is recommended to apply the ointment three times a day for the first two days. After that, the treatment should be continued for another five days by performing two applications per day.
- Tetracycline (Ambramycin ®): tetracycline is an antibiotic belonging to the tetracycline class. It is usually administered orally at a dose of 15-25 mg / kg of body weight. However, the exact amount of drug to be used must be established by the doctor.
- Minocycline (Minocin ®): also minocycline is an antibiotic belonging to the class of tetracycline that can be used in the treatment of blepharitis on an infectious basis. Generally, it is administered orally in doses that can range from 50 mg to 200 mg a day. Also in this case, the exact dosage of the drug must be established by the doctor.
Antivirals
Antiviral drugs can be used when the cause of blepharitis is a viral infection. The virus responsible for inflammation is usually Herpes simplex .
- Ganciclovir (Virgan ®): ganciclovir is the antiviral most used in the treatment of eye infections sustained by Herpes simplex . In these cases, ganciclovir is used in the form of an ophthalmic gel. The usual dose is one drop of gel, to be administered three to five times a day.
Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids can be used in the treatment of blepharitis due to their marked anti-inflammatory activity. Generally, they are administered through pharmaceutical formulations suitable for topical administration.
However, it is very important to remember that corticosteroids should not be used in cases of purulent and / or herpetic blepharitis, purulent conjunctivitis or viral infections, whose symptoms may be masked or aggravated by treatment with these same drugs.
- Hydrocortisone (Idracemi ®, Cortivis ®): in the treatment of blepharitis, hydrocortisone can be used in the form of eye drops and ophthalmic ointment. The dose of medication usually used is two drops of eye drops, to be administered two or more times a day according to medical prescription. If ophthalmic ointment is used, it is recommended to apply the drug 2-3 times a day, according to a medical prescription.
- Dexamethasone (Dexamono ®, Etacortilen ®, Luxazone ®, Visumetazone ®): dexamethasone can be used to treat blepharitis in the form of eye drops, ophthalmic gel or ophthalmic ointment. The usual dose is one drop of eye drops or ophthalmic gel, to be administered 3-4 times a day, or according to a medical prescription. When using the ophthalmic ointment, instead, it is recommended to make an application every two or three hours, according to the doctor's prescription.
Dexamethasone is also available in pharmaceutical preparations in association with chloramphenicol (Cloradex ®)
- Betamethasone (Visublefarite ®): betamethasone based eye drops are used to treat blepharitis. The usual dose is 2-3 drops, to be administered 3-4 times a day, in the opinion of the doctor.
Furthermore, betamethasone is also available in the form of eye drops, gel and ophthalmic ointment in combination with chloramphenicol (Betabioptal ®).
