Eyelid Problems

Symptoms

The following are some of the common symptoms:

• Itchy eyelids
• Flaky or crusty eyelids
• Painful eyelids
• Lumps on your eyelids
• Swollen eyelids

What are the types of eyelid conditions?

Eyelids conditions can be classified into two categories:

• Inflammatory eyelid disorders
• Mechanical eyelid disorders

Causes

Some of the causes for eyelid problems are as follows:

• Blepharitis- This common problem causes inflammation in the eyelid margin due to bacteria and oil coating the eyelid edge at the base of eyelashes
• Meibomianitis- An infection in the glands of the eyelids.
• Lacrimal duct obstruction- Blockage of the lacrimal duct leads to infection and inflammation.
• Chalazion- The formation of lumps under the skin of the eyelid.
• Stye - Stye is the sensitive inflamed area that appears on the eyelid edge due to bacterial infection of an eyelash folicle, sweat gland or oil gland.
• Blepharospasm- It refers to spasm in the eyelid muscle resulting in repetitive fluttering, blinking and twitching of the eyelid.
• Blepharoptosis- It leads to drooping of upper eyelids blocking the pupil.
• Dermatochalasis- Excessive fat or eyelid skin hangs over the edge of eyes blocking the vision.
• Ectropion- In this condition, lower eyelid turns outward exposing the inner eyelid causing irritation, dryness and redness.
• Entropion- In this condition, lower eyelid turns inward causing irritation, dryness and redness.
• Trichiasis- It refers to growth of eyelashes in various directions rubbing against the cornea.
• Injuries- In cases of trauma to the eyelid, the eyelids can become swollen as the blood will deposit in the affected area.

Risk factors

• Trauma to the eye
• Age
• Bacterial infection.
• Prolonged contact lens use

Preventions

Some ways to prevent eyelid problems are as follows:

• Use hypoallergenic eye makeup
• Wash the hands properly using soapy and warm water before touching the eyes
• Regularly clean the your face
• Don’t touch and rub the eyes too often
• Avoid known allergens, which result in eye swelling and redness

Diagnosis

During the initial appointment, an extensive eye exam will be conducted for accurate diagnosis of the problem. The doctor will consider the several factors at the time of the exam:

• Problem duration
• Change in the appearance or size of lesions
• Recurrence of already treated areas
• Skin cancer history

Also, eye doctor will investigate the eyelid structure and detect any issues such as:

• Misdirected eyelashes
• Tearing
• Outward or inward turning of the eyelid
• Lesions
• Excess tissue
• Drooping

Treatments

The treatment options for eyelid problems are:

• Oral medications- You may be prescribed different medications such as antibioticsor anti-inflammatory medications.
• Ointments and creams- For allergic reactions, medicated creams and ointments may be prescribed.
• Eye drops- Over the counter artificial tears and anti-histamine eye drops may be recommended.
• Surgery- In some advanced cases, surgery may need to be carried out.

Home remedies

Despite the condition and medical treatment, these home remedies are quite effective to try out:

• Warm compress
• Gentle massage of the eyelids with a clean warm cloth

When to visit a doctor

You must visit a doctor when there is:

• Persistent eyelid problem
• No improvement in eyelid problems
• Development of yellow patches or lumps around the eye