Blepharitis? - Glendale,AZ

Updated on August 10, 2013
D.W. asks from Glendale, AZ
3 answers

Hello!
My 4-yr old was diagnosed with Blepharitis after we had lid infections for 4 consecutive months (12/12-3/13). The 2nd eye doctor gave us great mitigation steps (compresses, lid scrubs, sunglasses when outside, goggles when swimming, supplemental Omega 3) in addition to medication to get over the infection she had the time of the March appointment. With all that we were close to 3 months in the clear, and now all of a sudden I can barely keep new flare ups at bay. Does anyone have experience with this condition and/or additional suggestions? Will this end some day or will this be our routine for the rest of our days?
Also, it seems that every time this flares up, she has some sort of cold or allergies. I mentioned this to the eye doctor, but they waived it off. Am I stretching too much by thinking that this comes up when her body is busy dealing with the cold or allergies?
Thank you for any thoughts!

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So What Happened?

Thank you all for your very helpful answers! I have changed up the eye washing routine to the way Teenmom described - hopefully this will help more than the washes with the wash cloth. An advantage to this is anyway that it is so much more gentle on the eye lid skin. - We are supplementing with Omega 3. Hope it helps :) - I will also look into the allergy angle! We are in Arizona and we get spurts of growth. Maybe that is why the Spring was so bad for her! Thank you again!!!

More Answers

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C.B.

answers from Boston on

I had blepharitis. Tears consist of mostly water and some oil to keep them from evaporating and some mucus to stick them to the eye. In this condition the 3 separate and the oil ends up clogging the tears ducts causing swelling/infection and the eyes feel super dry. The simple solution for me was to wash my eyes daily (morning and night) with a little diluted baby shampoo. Baby shampoo is the pH of your eye so it does not sting, it removes the germs, and the warm water dissolves the clogged oil. I used to fold a wash cloth and hold it under water as hot as my face could stand, hang my face over the sink, press the wet hot wash cloth against both my closed eyes for a minute or so and let the water drip out while I gently squeezed it against my eyes, then rub the cloth with closed eyes along the lash line (once of each eye), then simply tip a travel size Johnson & Johnson baby shampoo bottle against my index finger and the amount that stuck to my fingertip after righting the bottle was all that was needed for both eyes (rub both index fingers together and use one finger for each closed eye and wash back and forth along the lash line). Then use the warm wash cloth with fresh water without wringing it against both eyes at once again and squeeze the washcloth to let water rinse the baby shampoo away (may need to do this a few times). I did this ritual morning and night for a few years and then at an eye doctor's appointment with a new doctor mentioned I had blepharatis and he said he saw no evidence of it. So I guess it can go away. Untreated it would cause the tear ducts of my eye lids to clog and have little white bumps along the inside of the lash line, as well as swelling of the whole lid until it was red. I did not notice a correlation between the clogged lids and being sick, I had it all the time. However, the baby shampoo washing became such an easy routine that it prevented the occurrences. I would go see an eye doctor if you have not yet since a primary care knows less about eyes. But the routine above completely kept my infections away and seemed to even clear up the condition altogether (or I just got older an my chemistry changed). Good luck.

2 moms found this helpful

D.B.

answers from Boston on

Sounds like an immune response which makes sense anyway, and you're seeing it when her immune system is compromised. Go with your gut even though the doctor is dismissing you.

You can supplement with child-safe nutrition and a natural anti-inflammatory that boosts the immune system.

My husband had significant blepharitis for years and did everything you're doing. I can't imagine trying to do that on a child. Nothing worked until he supplemented. It's easy - let me know if you want info.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.L.

answers from Las Vegas on

I've only had it as an adult and it's been my experience as someone who would prefer NOT to use medication that it was medication that FINALLY brought it to an end. Previously I had had it on and off for a good year or two... it would go away somewhat and then the heat and or IF I applied makeup would trigger it.. Eventually, I went to the dermatologist who knew right away what it was (apparently it's VERY common) and he gave me some eye-cream to put around my eyes and some sort of medication to take orally for about a week or two... WOW........ the meds once and for all got rid of the stuff... and it's been about 5 years since I have had it....
I don't know if it's related to hives but having had those as well, the Blepharitis seems to have to run its course .. however that course can be a week to months to years.. I DO tend to think it's in part an allergy and something triggers it. in my case, I was under a great deal of stress at the time..
not sure if the doctor will give such a young child anti-inflammatory medication... but if he/she will... then I "might' consider it. of course, read up about the side-effects first.
In my case, I was so desperate to be rid of the stuff that I was open to taking the medication...
so there is hope... that YES... this will come to an end..

good luck

1 mom found this helpful
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