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Causes and Symptoms of Pink Eye

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You find your eyes have become slightly pink and rather itchy. You think nothing of it and simply ignore the situation, blaming your allergies. But what if there was more to your itchy eyes? Your pink or red eyes may be caused by a viral or bacterial infection, more commonly referred to as “pink eye.”

There are several types of pink eye, ranging from the contagious viral or bacterial infection mentioned above, to a common irritation of the conjunctiva – the clear membrane covering the white part of the eye and interior lining of the eyelids.

Your Symptoms can help determine the type of pink eye you have. These symptoms include:

•     Allergic conjunctivitis causes itching, redness and excessive tearing in both eyes.

•     Bacterial conjunctivitis often spreads to both eyes and causes a heavy discharge, sometimes yellow or greenish. Crusting may appear on eyelids.

•     Viral conjunctivitis usually affects only one eye, which has excessive watering and a light discharge. Crusting on eyelids can occur.

•     Dry eye causes redness, excessive tearing and a dry sandy feeling.

•     Blepharitis is an ocular disease that causes redness, itching and irritation.

Of course, the only way to truly diagnose your condition is to schedule an appointment with your eye doctor at your earliest convenience. Your eye doctor will examine your eyes with a specialized microscope and collect a sample for analysis.

Most types of pink eye are not considered serious and treatment is dependent on the variety of pink eye you have. Antibiotic eye ointments or drops may help bacterial forms of conjunctivitis, while viral conjunctivitis will usually clear up by itself within a week. You should wait until you talk to your eye doctor before trying to self-medicate with any over-the-counter eye drops.

To prevent future outbreaks of pink eye, you should…

• …avoid sharing personal items, including towels, make-up, pillowcases.

• …use tissues and cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough.

• …avoid eye rubbing and touching.

• …wash your hands often.

• …wear protective goggles when swimming.

• …dust and vacuum to cut down on allergens.

• …follow all cleaning and handling instructions for your contacts.

• …see your doctor regularly.

In the end, everyone is at risk of pink eye, but you can minimize that risk by following the above advice. Despite all these precautions, you may still develop pink eye. If you do, as with any eye problem, always consult your eye doctor for treatment and care.

If you have any questions about what you have just read, contact Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010 or click here today!

Blepharitis: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

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Blepharitis is an inflammation of the eyelid and eyelash structures.  It is a common eye condition that is typically caused by either a bacterial or skin condition such as dandruff of the scalp or acne rosacea. It can affect people of all ages and is not a contagious condition. Although uncomfortable and chronic, blepharitis usually does not cause permanent damage to an individual’s eyesight.

Blepharitis can be divided in to both an anterior and posterior form. The anterior form occurs along the front edge of eyelid, where the eyelashes are attached. The posterior form occurs along the inner edge of the eyelid that comes into contact with the eyeball. In a large portion of the population blepharitis tends to be a mix of the two.

Causes of Blepharitis:

The anterior form of blepharitis is most commonly caused by either bacteria (staphylococcal blepharitis) or dandruff of the scalp and eyebrows (seborrheic blepharitis).  In rare incidences the anterior form can be caused by an allergic reaction or an infestation of mites.

The posterior form of blepharitis is typically caused by an irregular production of oils by the glands along the eyelid margin (meibomian blepharitis), which can produce a favorable environment for bacterial growth. Posterior blepharitis is also commonly associated with acne rosacea and dandruff of the scalp.

Symptoms of Blepharitis:

Individuals with blepharitis may experience:

  • Crusting or scaling of the eyelashes
  • Red and swollen eyelids
  • A gritty or sandy feeling
  • Itching or burning
  • Tearing
  • Dry eye
  • In serious cases individuals may note blurring of vision, loss or misdirected eyelashes, styes, and inflammation to other structures of the eye including the cornea and the conjunctiva.

Blepharitis Treatment

Blepharitis is a chronic condition therefore treatment is an ongoing process (similar to treating acne).
The main treatments for blepharitis include a warm compress for several minutes (5-10) followed by a gentle lid massage. This will help to both loosen crusts along the eyelashes and open the glands along the eyelid to better express stagnate oils to allow bacterial growth.

Your eye doctor may also recommend the use of special eyelid cleansers, lubricating eye drops, oral supplements, antibiotic drops, anti-inflammatory drops, or even oral antibiotics in more severe or complicated cases.

The best way to diagnose and manage blepharitis is through a comprehensive eye exam where a doctor can better evaluate an individual’s history, eyelids, and other eye structures.

To learn more about blepharitis and proper eye health, please contact board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles and the eye care specialists at Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010.  Located in Annapolis, Maryland, the Anne Arundel Eye Center offers comprehensive specialized ophthalmic exams as well as diagnostic pre- and post-surgical eye care.

For more eye care advice and information, please take a look at our previous blog posts.

Sources:

Blepharitis PubMed Health
aoa.org

Annapolis Eye Doctor: Is the Eyelid Crusty & Swollen? It may be Blepharitis

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Have you noticed that your eyelid has become slightly swollen, red, and crusty? You may be suffering from a common eye condition known as Blepharitis. This common inflammation of the eyelid is often caused by excess bacteria growth, blockage of the eyelid’s oil glands, and occasionally allergies.

Symptoms of Blepharitis Include:

  1. Burning
  2. Sensitivity to light
  3. Redness
  4. Swelling
  5. Blurry vision
  6. Dry eyes
  7. Excessive Tearing
  8. Crusty Debris
  9. Feeling like something is in your eye
  10. Styes, bumps on the eyelid that are raised and painful to the touch

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, schedule an appointment with your eye doctor at your earliest convenience. While Blepharitis cannot be cured, it can be treated and controlled with simple eyelid hygiene techniques that are easy to learn and follow.

If left untreated, Blepharitis can lead to more serious issues, such as scarring or injury to the eye’s tissue.

Blepharitis Treatment

  1. Wet a clean washcloth with very warm water and place it over the closed eyelid for five minutes to help soften the clogged oil glands and loosen crusty debris that has collected on the lashes.
  2. Using the washcloth, apply a diluted solution of 50% baby shampoo or mild soap to the affected area.
  3. Use the washcloth with baby shampoo or Ocusoft Lid scrub pads to clean the eyelid margin.  You want to scrub from side to side, not up and down.  Make sure you get the lid margin (where your lashes are) while being careful not the scratch the eye itself.
  4. Rinse the affected area with a clean, warm, wet washcloth and pat dry.
  5. Take your fingertip and ‘roll’ your finger from the cheekbone up to the lid margin, and from the brow down to the lid margin.  This should be done multiple times in order to cover the whole margin of both eyes.  Please ensure the pressure is firm.  Don’t hurt yourself, but don’t be afraid to apply a firm, gentle pressure.

If you are in the early stages of Blepharitis treatment, avoid using eye makeup. This may help prevent further irritation.

To learn more about the Blepharitis, please contact Board Certified Ophthalmologist Dr. Boles, consultative optometrists Dr. Nathan Frank and Dr. Corinne Casey, and the eye care specialists at Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010 or click here to visit AnneArundelEyeCenter.com. Staffed by caring and knowledgeable professionals, our state-of-the-art treatment center is dedicated to making the best eye care accessible to everyone.

For more eye care advice and information, please take a look at our previous blog posts.

You can also follow Anne Arundel Eye Center on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube as well!

Source:

  1. Eye Health and Blepharitis WebMD

Are your Dry Eyes affecting your Quality of Life? Find out what to do!

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A 2007 American Journal of Ophthalmology study reported that individuals with Dry Eye Syndrome were hampered when trying to perform normal, everyday activities like reading, driving, using the computer, and more.

What is Dry Eye Syndrome?

Your eyes rely on tears to provide moisture, lubrication, and comfort. Dry Eye Syndrome is a common eye disease in which the quantity or quality of tears is diminished. This can lead to eye irritation, fatigue, visual disturbances, and of course, dryness of the eyes.

What Causes Dry Eye Syndrome?

  • There is no one cause of Dry Eye Syndrome.
  • The most common cause of dry eyes is age. As we grow older, our tear production diminishes. This leaves most individuals over the age of 65 with at least some symptoms of dry eye.
  • The simplest treatable underlying cause for dry eye symptoms is Blepharitis.
  • Another cause of Dry Eye Syndrome is Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD). Failure of these glands to produce or secrete oil – due to chronic blockage, thickening of the meibum, etc. will negatively affect the tear film, which in turn will result in dry eye symptoms.
  • Dry eyes can be a side effect of medications, like antihistamines, blood pressure medicine, and antidepressants.
  • Dry eyes can develop as a symptom of another medical condition, such as rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and thyroid problems.
  • Dry eyes can even develop from the long-term use of contacts.
  • And more.

As you can see, there are several ways in which an individual can develop dry eyes.

What are the Symptoms of Dry Eye Syndrome?

There are several signs and symptoms of Dry Eye Syndrome, including:

  • Pain
  • Sensitivity to light
  • A gritty sensation
  • Feeling like ‘something’ is in the eye
  • Itching
  • Redness
  • Blurred vision / Blurry vision
  • Varying vision clarity
  • Dryness

If you feel you may be experiencing any of the above symptoms, schedule an appointment with your eye doctor – optometrist or ophthalmologist – as soon as possible. While there is no cure for dry eyes, there are several treatment methods that can be taken to alleviate the symptoms of dry eyes and restore and enhance the health and the quality of the normal tear film.  We don’t just want to treat symptoms, but we want to address and attack the underlying CAUSE to help restore healthier ocular surface.

How is Dry Eye Syndrome Treated?

If you are diagnosed with Dry Eye Syndrome, you have several treatment options, including:

  • Artificial tears
  • Punctal Occlusion (Temporary and Permanent)
  • Medications, like Restasis
  • Surgery

To find out which dry eye treatment is right for you, schedule an appointment with your eye doctor. He/she will be able to diagnose your specific situation and guide you on the right treatment path.

To learn more about Dry Eye Syndrome, please contact board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles, consultative optometrist Dr. Nathan Frank, and the eye care specialists at Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010 or click here to visit AnneArundelEyeCenter.com.

Located in Annapolis, Maryland, the Anne Arundel Eye Center offers comprehensive specialized ophthalmic exams as well as diagnostic pre and post-surgical eye care. Specializing in glaucoma and cataracts, Dr. Boles has helped restore and preserve thousands of patients’ vision. Vision problems may be a natural part of aging. Losing your vision doesn’t have to be.

For more eye care advice and information, please take a look at our previous blog posts.

You can also follow Anne Arundel Eye Center on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube as well!

Sources:

Dry Eye Syndrome May Cut Life Quality

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