Blepharitis, Dry Eye, and Mites on My Eyelids

You may have thought that you have dandruff on your eyelids and lashes. You have tried to remove them, and they just don’t come off your lashes. Plus, they keep coming back. Guess what, it’s not the same as scalp dandruff or dry skin, even though we refer its presence as “cylindrical dandruff.”

If you have it, most likely you have a mite present called Demodex follicular or Demodex Brevis. This mite lives in the hair follicle of your eyelashes. Why do you have this and what can be done to get rid of it? Keep reading.

What Is Blepharitis?

Blepharitis means inflammation or infection of the eyelids. They may be swollen, red, crusty, itchy, dandruff laden, clumpy, or matted. Blepharitis makes you uncomfortable and self-conscious. You rub and rub, and rub your eyes only to make it worse. Or, you have no idea that you even have this condition until a loved one your eye doctor says something about your red and crusty eyelid margins.

What Is a Mite Doing in My Eyelashes?

Well, that’s where they take residence. The eyelashes are a place where there is a forest of lashes, an ocean of tears, and oil is abundant. Furthermore, skin cells, scurf, and other debris act as an ample food source. You have heard of dust mites and bed mites—they are ubiquitous—which live on skin cells we slough off and deposit on our bedding.

Think about how often we dwell on actively cleansing our eyelids and lashes to make sure they are as clean as the rest of our bodies. It just does not happen. We keep soap and water away from our eyes. This fun cartoon video explains blepharitis more clearly. 

The New Answer to an Age-Old Problem

Regular washcloth cleaning just does not do the trick of ridding us of the Demodex bugs.  Fortunately, we now have a tool called BlephEx to solve the problem in a few minutes in the office. Your eyes will feel great again, cool and refreshed as they will be super cleaned.  Microblepharoexfoliation is the actual name of the process. We are able to deep clean the base of the lashes to once-and-for-all get rid of the fuel for these mites and eliminate the source of inflammation. When Demodex eat up the lipids on the surface of the lids, the tear film no longer has the oil it needs to protect the ocular surface from evaporating. Plus, the Demodex usually keep company with bacteria. The bacteria digest the oil and turn it into a frothy soap in a process called saponification. Ever wonder why your eyes burn when they are dry? That soapy frothing of the eyelids is the source.

Related Read: 3 Main Causes of Dry Eye Syndrome – Which One Is Causing Your Symptoms?

The 20-Minute Cure for Blepharitis

Let us, at Brill Eye Center, help analyze your dry eyes and eyelids for Demodex. It is estimated that 70% of people over age 60 have Demodex. We can clean up the problem, no matter how long you have had it, in about 20 minutes right here in the office. You will then be given instructions to use a specific eyelid cleanser that employs a chemical ingredient called 4-terpineum to finish killing the mites and keep them from returning. Another agent that contains hypochlorous solution will also need to be used as an eyelid cleanser to kill that associated bacteria. This solution is made naturally inside our bodies to kill bacteria when we have infections. BlephEx microexfoliation has really worked well for many of our patients for over two years.

Are you ready to check if you have Demodex cylindrical blepharitis? If you do, we are here to help you get rid of these pests. Your eyes will feel much better without these mites and bacteria.