When you hear “eye care,” you probably think of your actual eyeballs – but your eyelids are susceptible to disease as well. Eyelid disorders are actually quite common, but aren’t discussed nearly as often as eye diseases.
So, let’s talk about diseases that can affect your eyelids, and what you should know!
Know Your Common Eyelid Disorders
1 – Blepharitis
Blepharitis is a painful inflammation around the edges of the eyelid. The eyelid becomes itchy, or even burns, and may create a feeling like there’s something in your eye.
Blepharitis can be caused by clogged oil glands. In this case, case warm compresses cleaning the affected area can often clear it up without need for a doctor. However, it can also be caused by bacterial infection – and that infection can potentially spread to the eye itself.
So if warming and cleaning the eyelid doesn’t cause the blepharitis to go away, you’ll probably need to see an eye doctor for antibiotics.
2 – Chalazion
A chalazion is a small lump on the eyelid, which is almost always caused by a clogged oil duct. The chalazion itself usually won’t cause much pain, but it will cause a constant feeling of a foreign object rubbing against your eye. In rare cases, the chalazion can grow so big that it affects your vision.
Like with blepharitis, this can often be treated with a warm compress that encourages the clog to break up. However, larger ones may need to be seen by a qualified optometrist.
3 – Stye
A stye is another kind of lump that can form on the eyelid, this time on the edge around the eyelash follicles. Styes are caused by bacterial infection.
In most cases, styes go away on their own after a few days. Once again, warm compresses can help. If the stye doesn’t go away, or gets worse, see a doctor for antibiotics.
4 – Ectropion / Entropion
These are both disorders where the eyelid turns the wrong way. With ectropion, it turns outward and exposes the inner eyelid to air – which is often very uncomfortable. Or, entropion means the eyelid has turned inwards, causing the eyelashes to constantly rub against the eye itself. This could potentially even scratch the cornea.
Unfortunately, these cannot be treated with medicine, and will likely require surgery to correct.
So if you are having issues with your eyelids, monitor them closely. If the problem doesn’t go away quickly, contact Valley Eyecare Center for a checkup by a qualified optometrist.
