Symptoms and treatment of blepharitis

Blepharitis is a chronic inflammation of the skin follicles and glands that occurs at the eyelid margin and can be divided into three categories, scaly blepharitis, ulcerative blepharitis, and canthal blepharitis, depending on the clinical features. The clinical features of scaly blepharitis are mainly bran-like scales, with bran-like scales at the lid margin and eyelash roots, waxy yellow or grayish white, no ulcers, no pus spots, and eyelash loss, but regeneration is possible. Ulcerative blepharitis is characterized by pustules and crusts, and small ulcers may appear on the lid margins, which may appear as bald eyelashes or eyelash disarray. Canthal blepharitis is mainly seen in the canthus of the eyelid, where the skin is congested and eroded with small chaps and bleeding, and a yellowish-white discharge may appear. Medication-wise, scaly blepharitis can begin with removing the scabs with saline, keeping the discharge clear, and applying antibiotic eye ointment to the lid margin. Ulcerative blepharitis is treated with topical antibiotics or sulfonamide eye ointment. Canthal blepharitis can be treated with zinc sulfate drops and topical antibiotic eye ointment.