Blepharitis

Try not to worry too much if you do have blepharitis. it isn’t contagious², it usually isn’t serious¹ and should go away by itself in a few weeks. If you have the condition, you should clean your eyelids every day with warm water and a gentle cleanser like baby shampoo, or with special eye wipes².

Blepharitis can lead to other eye problems, like cysts², styes², or conjunctivitis². It can also cause blurred vision or dry eyes and make some of your eyelashes fall out.¹ So it’s a good idea to come and see your optometrist if you think you might have blepharitis. They will use a bright light and a magnifying tool to look at your eye and eyelid.¹ They can tell you if it is blepharitis and help you find the best treatment.

If you’ve had blepharitis before you’re more likely to get it again, so it’s important to follow a good routine of keeping your eyes clean every day.¹

Preventing blepharitis

You can help prevent blepharitis by keeping your eyelids and eye area clean. This removes and reduces bacteria which can cause an infection. To clean your eyes, make sure your hands are clean first. Then soak a soft cloth or cotton wool ball in warm water and a gentle cleanser, like baby shampoo and massage your eyes. You can also use special eye pads².

If you wear eye make-up, always remove it before going to bed⁴. Also, don’t put eyeliner behind your eyelashes⁴. Try to avoid sharing make-up with other people, as this can spread bacteria.

If you’ve had blepharitis before, don’t reuse any eye make-up that you used before or during the infection. This could re-infect your eyes with the same bacteria again⁴. We’d recommend throwing it away and buying new eye make-up.

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