Keeping A Lid On It: The Underdiagnosis And Management Of Blepharitis

By Dr. Mark Eltis, OD, FAAO

No conspiracy unites optometrists in a sinister policy of denial on
blepharitis. There is no gag-order -no cover-up, and that's too bad. Without the excitement and intrigue of some sinister plot to be exposed and made into a blockbuster starring Tom Hanks, eye-care professionals are apt to be apathetic about the disease and its mundane modus operendi. We are apt to forget that, when it is allowed to go undiagnosed and untreated, the lid under which we unwittingly keep blepharitis is our patient's.




For Your Reference:

Eltis M. Keeping A Lid On It: The Underdiagnosis And Management Of Blepharitis. [Presentation] Pomona: Western University Of Health Sciences. 2010.


1. Jackson WB. Blepharitis: current strategies for diagnosis and management. Can J Ophthalmol.
Apr 2008; 43(2):170-9.

2. American Academy of Ophthalmology, Preferred Practice Patterns Committee.
Blepharitis: preferred practice pattern guidelines. 2008.
Available at one.aao.org/CE/PracticeGuidelines/PPP

3. Gilbard JP. Dry eye and blepharitis: approaching the patient with chronic eye irritation.
Geriatrics. Jun 2009; 64(6):22-6.

4. McCulley JP, Shine WE. Changing concepts in the diagnosis and management of blepharitis. Cornea. Sep 2000; 19(5):650-8.

5. Auw-Haedrich C, Reinhard T. Chronic blepharitis: pathogenesis, clinical features, and therapy. Ophthalmologe. Sep 2007; 104(9):817-26.

6. Smith RE, Flowers CW. Chronic blepharitis: a review. CLAO J. Jul 1995; 21(3):200-07.

7. Kanski, JJ. Clinical Ophthalmology 6th Ed. Oxford, Butterworth-Heinemann Ltd. 2007.

8. Ehlers JP, Shah CP. The Wills Eye Manual: Office and Emergency Room Diagnosis and Treatment of Eye 5th Ed. Baltimore, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 2008.

9. Kanski, JJ. Clinical Ophthalmology: a synopsis 2nd Ed. Oxford, Butterworth-Heinemann Ltd. 2009.

10. Gilbard JP. Dry eye, blepharitis and chronic eye irritation: divide and conquer.
J Ophthalmic Nurs Technol. May-Jun 1999;18(3):109-15.


Dr. Mark Eltis received his Doctor of Optometry at University of Waterloo, where he now balances part-time lecturing, lab-instruction and clinical supervision with private practice in Toronto. He has also practised in New York and Beverly Hills and is an examiner for both the American and Canadian optometric licensing bodies (NBEO and CSAO). To guest-lectures in the United States and overseas, Dr. Eltis now adds a series of short videos on a range of optometric topics with quick tips on professional eyecare.

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[1pizzo]

use baby shampoo wash cloth and really warm water after cleaning your lids put a light film of petroleum jelly or vasaline on them it take the pain away and stops the crust/flacks. it worked for me

[ivandela425]

@Harrysound there is no cure for that in america, but people can cure that shit in africa.

[Jitpring]

@Harrysound Any improvement?

[ZkaAnimation]

I've had since birth. Very anoying.

[roodio]

I had a really bad attack of blepharitis and my eye lid swoll very badly. Went for a swim, a steam and and a sauna for a friend's birthday. Ninety-five percent of the swelling subsided.

[11teenp99]

@Harrysound : very true.. coz i suffer frm this too..

[rinnin]

Can't be that bad Harry surely?

[Harrysound]

This is an extremely hard condition to deal with.

It's a big stain and possibly a full stop on a life I once enjoyed.