Colchester Eye Centre
Colchester Primary Care Centre
Turner Road, Colchester CO4 5JR
Tel: 01206 487 106
Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm
Blepharitis and eyelid cleaning advice
What is blepharitis?
Blepharitis is inflammation of the eyelid margins. It is extremely common, is not sight-threatening and can re-occur. The condition arises from an accumulation of debris attached to the root of the eyelashes and/or the tiny meibomian glands on the inner eyelid becoming blocked, which leads to the eyelids becoming red and sore.
Treatment
Blepharitis is controlled by cleaning the eyelids twice a day and may also require drops and/or ointment. Blepharitis is a long-term condition and may return if regular eyelid cleaning is stopped.
Advice on eyelid cleaning
- Wash your hands before and after cleaning
- Soak two cotton backed eye makeup remover pads in comfortably hot tap water placed in a bowl.
- Squeeze the pads gently and apply one to each closed eyelid. Keep in place with fingers firmly over the top of the pads, pressing on the lashes
- If you have been advised to massage your eyelids due to blocked meibomiam glands, use a finger to firmly stroke the skin of the lids downwards towards the lashes for the top lid and upwards towards the lashes for the bottom lid
- Remove both pads after a few minutes and dispose
- Moisten a further pad in the water, close one eye and wipe back and forth across the lashes. Then use circular movements to loosen any debris
- Repeat on the other eye
- Clean along the upper and lower outer eyelid edges from the inner corner outwards
- Use Blephaclean for continued care
Further information
For advice, please telephone 01206 487 106, Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm.
Out of hours – Weekdays 5pm–7pm and weekends and bank holidays, 11am–4pm, please telephone 01206 286 882, or contact your GP, or go to a walk-in centre or the nearest accident and emergency department.
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