DRY EYE SYNDROME BLEPHARITIS - Jane Smellie Opticians

Your Personalised
Dry Eye Treatment Plan
Name
Date of Assessment
You have been diagnosed with:
Chronic Dry Eye Syndrome
Anterior Blepharitis
Posterior Blepharitis or
Meibomium Gland Dysfunction
You have depletion in the:
Tear Lipid Layer
Tear Mucous Layer
Tear Mucin Layer
Your Meibomium Glands are:
Blocked
Damaged
Swollen
Distorted
Follow the simple steps below to relieve your symptoms:
TREATMENT FREQUENCY DURATION
Hot compress
(take a clean small towel,
immerse in warm water, wring
out and hold over both eyes)
Or Eye Bag
AM & PM
Daily
3 times/wk
1 time/wk
Lid Massage
(use your finger direct on the
eyelid margin to massage the
lid margin border)
Rinse with cool water
Lid cleansing
Blephaclean Wipes
Blephagel
Blephasol solution
Lubricants
Your next appointment:
AM & PM
Daily
3 times/wk
1 time/wk
AM & PM
Daily
3 times/wk
1 time/wk
Drinking plenty of water, stopping smoking and supplementing your
Omega 3 intake can assist in the management of dry eye syndrome.
PERSONAL SERVICE, PROFESSIONAL CARE
DRY EYE
SYNDROME
AND
BLEPHARITIS
3 GREEN END, WHITCHURCH,
SHROPSHIRE, SY13 1AD
TEL: 01948 666767 / 666434
whitchurch@smellieopticians.co.uk
CHESTER WELLNESS CENTRE
NEAR CHESTER BUSINESS PARK
WREXHAM ROAD, CHESTER, CH4 9DE
TEL: 01244 679841
chester@smellieopticians.co.uk
22 CHESTER STREET, WREXHAM, LL13 8BG
TEL: 01978 263710
wrexham@smellieopticians.co.uk
www.janesmellieopticians.co.uk

WHAT IS DRY EYE SYNDROME?
There are two main types of dry eye syndrome:
1 Sjogrens Dry Eye Disease – this is where you stop
producing tears e.g. on cutting a strong onion you
would not be able to produce any tears.
2 Non-Sjogrens Dry Eye Disease – this is where you
can produce tears but the quality or quantity or
both are not sufficient.
Poor quality tears can arise for a number of
reasons and below is a list of some of the most
common causes:
● Untreated Anterior Blepharitis.
● Untreated Posterior Blepharitis.
● Working at a computer screen.
● Working in an air conditioned environment.
● Allergies.
● Certain medications.
● Contact Lenses.
● Certain Systemic Diseases e.g. diabetes.
What are the symptoms?
If you experience any of the following we
would recommend a Dry Eye Assessment
at Jane Smellie Opticians:
● Red eyes.
● Sore eyes.
● Sticky eyes.
● Gritty eyes/Foreign Body sensation in eyes.
● Runny, watery eyes.
● Itchy eyes.
● Stinging eyes.
● Light sensitive eyes.
● Swollen eyes.
● Lumps on or under eye lids.
● Blurry Vision.
● Red/sore eyelids.
WHAT IS ANTERIOR BLEPHARITIS? WHAT ABOUT DROPS?
Anterior Blepharitis is an external eye condition and
literally means inflammation of the eyelash follicle.
The inflammation can arise due to a bacterial
infection or from skin irritation.
How to treat Anterior Blepharitis
Blepharitis is a chronic condition so, once the
symptoms are under control, it is important that
treatment is carried out at least twice a week.
It is best treated after you have had a shower/bath
as the lids are softer and the glands are open.
Using either Blephaclean wipes or Blephasol
Solution on a cotton wool pad gently wipe the
lashes down from root to end. Do this for the top
and bottom lid lashes.
WHAT IS POSTERIOR BLEPHARITIS?
Meibomium Glands are situated on the top and
bottom eyelid margins.
They are responsible for producing the oily layer of
the tear film.
In Posterior Blepharitis the glands can either stop
working altogether, or start producing a poorer
quality oil. It is also known as Meibomium Gland
Dysfunction.
How to treat Posterior Blepharitis
1 Posterior Blepharitis is best treated after you have
had a shower/bath as the glands are open.
2 Run a small, clean towel under warm water and
wring out. Hold the flannel over both eyes – the
heat from the flannel will melt the thick oil
blocking the gland. Do this for about 30 seconds.
3 Alternatively use an Eye Bag as a hot compress.
4 Remove the flannel/bag and gently massage the
top and bottom lid margins for about 20 seconds.
5 Rinse your eyes with cool water.
● After treating your Blepharitis, it is always
a good idea to supplement your own tears with
artificial ones.
● You can not overdose or become addicted to
dry eye drops.
● Your Optometrist will advise you on the best
drop for the type of dry eye you might have,
below are a few examples:
1 Anterior Blepharitis – when this has flared up
there are often bacteria around, so using a
preservative free, one use vial is better e.g.
Thera Tears and Systane Vials.
2 Posterior Blepharitis – Systane Balance and
Thealoz are drops designed to be used for
this condition.
3 Dry Eye Syndrome – poor quality tears.
Tears are made up of three layers - a lipid/fat
layer, an aqueous layer and a mucin layer.
A Jane Smellie Opticians Dry Eye Assessment
will reveal which layer you are deficient in
and below are drops that may help manage
your condition:
● Depletion in your lipid layer:
This can be caused by Blepharitis and therefore
Systane Balance or Thealoz may be
recommended after treating the Blepharitis.
● Depletion in your aqueous layer:
This condition gives watery/runny eyes and can
be treated with a gel (eg. Clinitas Hydrate) at
night along with Systane Ultra and Hyabak
drops during the day.
● Depletion in your mucin layer:
These are usually related to systemic conditions
and treatment is more specific.
Occasionally, more specific treatments may be
required like the insertion of punctum plugs to
stop tears from draining out of your eyes, or
Lacrimal dilation and syringing to open your tear
ducts. Your Optometrist will advise you if you
require any of these treatments.