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BlepharitisSmithtown and Riverhead Eye Care Specialists

blepharitisBlepharitis is a chronic inflammation of the eyelids and eyelid margins. Patients with blepharitis complain of symptoms such as tearing, crusting of the eyelids, foreign body sensation, red eyes and eyelids, as well as photophobia or sensitivity to light. Patients often feel burning that is worse upon waking. This chronic inflammatory eye condition can cause dry eye and blurred vision if not treated.

Blepharitis is usually noninfectious and often related to scalp and facial skin diseases such as rosacea, psoriasis, and other eczema-like skin conditions. There can be a significant sensitivity to environmental factors like heat, cold, allergens, make-up, facial creams and other products. At North Shore Eye Care, located conveniently in Smithtown and Riverhead New York in Long Island, we tell our patients to be as hypoallergenic as possible.


When examining your eye, our board certified cataract and lasik surgeons often see lid redness and irregular blood vessel formation. There is usually debris in the tear film and there can be a soapy film on the surface of the eye. The lid glands called meibomian glands that secrete oil on the surface of the eye can look inflamed and blocked.

The mainstay of treatment for blepharitis is lid hygiene. Our Long Island eye doctors suggest heat to the eyelids to melt the solidified secretions and lid scrubs to keep the eyelid margins clean. At times, we also use topical antibiotics, steroids, and oral antibiotics. With treatment, we can dramatically reduce the irritating symptoms of blepharitis and inflammatory ocular surface disease.

If you have symptoms of inflammatory ocular surface disease like blepharitis, please call the board certified eye surgeons at North Shore Eye Care. In addition to specializing in advanced cataract surgery and lasik laser eye surgery, we also diagnose and treat many other eye conditions.