Overview

Blepharitis is a common eyelid condition that presents as a chronic and/or recurrent inflammation with scaling of the eyelid margins.

• Staphylococci (most common causative pathogen)

• Other infective etiologies: viral (e.g., herpes simplex or varicella zoster) or parasitic (demodicosis or phthiriasis palpebrarum).

• Allergic reactions or anatomical obstruction of sebaceous glands

  • Endogenous factors: oily deposits, seborrhea, hypersecretion of the eyelid glands, accumulation of secretion from the meibomian glands

  • External factors: smoke, dust, dry indoor climate, chemicals, drug toxicity

  • Systemic diseases: rosacea, atopy, and seborrheic dermatitis

  • Ocular diseases: dry eye syndromes (e.g., Sjögren syndrome), chalazion, trichiasis, conjunctivitis, and keratitis