Hi, I have posted before on this subject. Last time I was at the eye hospital the doctor commented
that my blepharitis was bad with blocked glands. I have just been back to the glaucoma clinic and
this time the I was told that it was not too bad and the glands were not blocked but the rims were
really inflamed. I must say my eyes have felt much better this last few weeks. No so good after all
the eyedrops and lights in the eye etc. I am going to try bicar of soda, as I find the baby shampoo
stings. I had just been using boiled water. I use hot flannel for compresses, tried microwave rice
bag and found it too heavy and dry heat made them worse. I have also tried blephasol, not sure
if it helps or not. My question is what can I do for the red rims which are there even when the eyes
feel pretty good. Any advice? Thanks.
My Consultant told me to use a drop of baby shampoo or similar in hot water, with a falnnel and put the hot flannel on my eyes until the flannel cooled. He also told me not to use any creams at all on my eyes. I now have no problems with blepharitis. I find the hot flannel very soothing.
You might find the red rims are an allergic reaction to baby shampoo or whatever. I don't use baby shampoo because they use formaldehyde releasers in it and I am allergic to them. [The ingredient that is often in baby shampoo, is DMDM Hydantoin]
Hi, Thanks for your replies. I did use baby shampoo for many years
Over the last few years the bleph has become much worse, not helped but 2 cataract surgeries. I have not used the shampoo for a few weeks as it sometimes stung, in fact even water can do this. I have just used plain boiled water. As I mentioned I am going to try bicarbonate of soda. I will look at the link you have provided. Thanks for taking the time to reply.
I just use a spot of handwash, that I know I am not allergic to.
Have you seen your Ophthalmologist recently? Perhaps you have a slight infection or something and need some drops that they can prescribe.
Just keep any creams or makeup away from your eyes.
Hi,You will see from my original post that I have been twice to the eye hospital in the last 2 months. The last time was yesterday when I was told that the bleph was much better than it was 2 months ago. No blocked glands much less debri but the main problems was red rims which of course are very sensitive. I do not have any infection. I have not used eye makeup for 2 or 3 years. What about foundation, although
I don't use it on the eye lids. Apart from that can't think of anything else
except that I do get very stressed and suffer from anxiety. I have also
noticed over the years that although I have short hair it is much better
each time it is trimmed. I was also told by a consultant dermatologist to
use nizoral shampoo. So I have gone back to this again. Thanks once again.
Dear Libralady,
The Wet Ones, hand wipes work because they contain Benzethonium Chloride.
Notice one of the causes they think of Blephatritis.
Staphylococcal blepharitisThis type of blepharitis is thought to be caused by a bacterium (germ) called staphylococcus.
Benzethonium Chloride and Benzalkonium Chloride are called Quats.
Quats are effective in destroying a broad spectrum of harmful microorganisms. They are effective in killing the following microorganisms while cleaning the surfaces upon which they reside – all in one simple step.
Gram negative and gram positive bacteria like salmonella typhi, staphylococcus aureus, streptococcus epidermidis and pseudomonas aeruginosa,
If you are not allergic to shampoos, detergents, fabric softners or even spermicidal jellies you should see if you can kill it this way as others have had success. Even the red eyes are gone after a period of 2 weeks one girl told me and she said she had it for 6 years.
Hope this info helps.
Lynda 79
Thank you for replying. Can you get the wet ones in the high street or do you need to order them on line.
https://patient.info/health/Blepharitis.htm
I expect you have read this libralady13.
Wet Ones are hand wipes and they tell you to keep them away from your eyes on the packet. You can buy them on the high street.
Dear Libralady,
I know there are a lot who are afraid to use the wipes.
Here is a tox report I found.
International Journal of Toxicology
3 Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Benzethonium Chloride and Methylbenzethonium Chloride
Abstract
Benzethonium Chloride and Methylbenzethonium Chloride are quaternary ammonium salts used in cosmetics primarily as preservatives and secondarily as cationic surfactants, usually at concentrations below 1 percent. They can be irritating to the skin at concentrations of greater than 5 percent. Chronic and subchronic feeding studies indicated little or no toxic effects for both ingredients. Benzethonium Chloride was nonmutagenic in microbial systems and shown to be noncarcinogenic in rodent studies.
In clinical studies, Benzethonium Chloride produced mild skin irritation at 5 percent but not at lower concentration. Neither ingredient is considered to be a sensitizer.
It is concluded that both compounds are safe at concentrations of 0.5 percent in cosmetics applied to the skin. A maximum concentration of 0.02 percent is safe for cosmetics used in the eye area.
The wipes are .03%. They do not go in the eye. If you use steroids you are putting into your eyes BAK, as a preservative. BAK is benzalkonium chloride (an ammonium salt compound same family as benzethonium chloride).
Honjon used the wipes in the UK and they had benzalkonium chloride in them and they worked too. Look at his info on this site.
This all started because a friend killed it with an Avon Facial scrub with Benzethonium Chloride in it.
I was desperate and jumped on anything that would kill it. I found out they why and how after someone was allergic to them. They were allergic to the hand wipes. I always post about that now. These work for about 80% of the people. It is the cheap way to kill it.
If you need more info let me know. Do my best.
Thinking of you,
Lynda79
Dear libralady,
Someone today said that the UK wipes have .3% of Benzalkonium Chloride in them. I live in US. The wipes I used have .03% Benzethonium Chloride in them. That is a huge difference if that is true.
Please order on-line and get the ones I know to be safe if you are not allergic.
Hope this info helps.
Lynda79
Please help I have tried every thing my eyes have been really bad now for a few months, been told it's blepharitis it's really getting me down.
Hi I am sorry you are having a bad time with your eyes. I can
Sympathise with you, it is horrible. I am not sure how to help.
What have you been advised to do and what have you tried?
Changing from baby shampoo to bicarbonate of soda helped
Most. My eyes have been much better for months but I am having a flare up at the moment but not bad. I believe there are
2 types of blepharitis infected and non infected. Others on this forum know about wipes to kill the bacteria and which ones to use.. Have a look at the posts about this. I have never tried them though so can't help there. What are you symptoms and were you diagnosed by your doctor or the eye hospital
Hi,
I need to correct this info. The US wipes are .3% Benzethonium Chloride.
I used these to kill the Blepharitis. Sorry was in desperate need of new glasses. Got then and could see the little dot after the 0.
Sorry, I did try let people know and I missed this one.
Lynda79
Yes i was diagnosed at the hospital. My eyes itchy the rims of my eyes very red and swollen.
I will try the wet ones is that the make of them?
Have you tried bicarbonate of soda ?
What do you do with the bicarbonate soda?
Hello again, I assume you having a cleaning regime, hot compresses massage and cleaning of the eyelids. Doctors used to recommend baby shampoo in cooled boiled water to clean the rims all around the eye lashes. I now use 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda dissolved in the cool boiled water around 1/2 beaker full to clean the lashes and also use a cotton wool make up pad soaked in the bicarb solution to clean the lids. My apologies if you know all this already. I only get a bit of itching during a flare up, it has never been my main symptom. Are youreyes dry as well and do you use artificial tears. Have you been told by the eye hospital whether you have blocked glands or not. When mine first started many years ago I just had to clean the eyelashes as I just had redness and crusting. Later on I started to get blocked glands hence the hot compresses and massage to unblock the glands. Mine has not been helped by 1 cataract operations and high pressures. Hope this helps.
One other thing do you by any chance suffer with your skin (face) as blepharitis is sometimes connected to the skin condtion rosacea or seborrheic (not spelt right) dermatitis. Anything else I can help with please ask although can't guarantee I have all the answers. Good luck.
ps light sensitivity can be a problem for some as well.