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Blepharitis is a common eye disease that affects the edge of the eyelids and the eyelash hair follicles. Symptoms include red and swollen eyelids; crusting of the eyelashes on awakening; redness of the eye; sensitivity to light; excessive tearing; frothy tears; and an itching, burning, or foreign-body sensation in the eye.

There are two forms of blepharitis. Anterior blepharitis involves the portion of the eyelid where the eyelashes attach. It is caused either by a bacterial infection, or as part of the same skin condition that causes dandruff (seborrheic dermatitis).

Posterior blepharitis occurs when the oil-secreting glands inside the eyelid (the meibomian glands) become inflamed, and eventually cannot secrete properly. This leads to changes in the liquid bathing the eye (the tear film). Like anterior blepharitis, posterior blepharitis may occur as part of seborrheic dermatitis. Acne rosacea has also been associated with the condition.

Treatment of blepharitis primarily involves various methods to keep the eyelids clean and free of crusts. In some cases, antibiotic or steroid eyedrops are used.

Principal Proposed Treatments for Blepharitis

N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) is a specially modified form of the dietary amino acid cysteine. When taken orally, NAC is thought to help the body make the important antioxidant enzyme glutathione. It is also thought to help loosen secretions, and for this reason, it has been tried as a treatment for loosening the thick crusty secretions that block the oil-secreting glands in posterior blepharitis.

As noted above, in posterior blepharitis, the tear film becomes abnormal. A controlled but not blinded study evaluated the potential benefits of NAC in 50 people with chronic posterior blepharitis. 1 All participants received standard eye care for blepharitis. In addition, about half the participants received NAC at a dose of 100 mg 3 times daily for 8 weeks. Researchers used various methods to objectively evaluate the quality of the tear film, and found that use of NAC brought about significant improvements.

Further research, including double-blind, placebo-controlled trials , will be necessary to determine whether these apparent benefits translate into meaningful improvement for people with chronic blepharitis.

For more information, see the full NAC article.

Other Proposed Treatments for Blepharitis

For various theoretical reasons, numerous other natural treatments have been recommended for blepharitis, including beta-carotene , citrus bioflavonoids , dandelion , evening primrose oil , fish oil , lutein , red clover , selenium , vitamin B complex (a mixture of vitamins B 1 , B 2 , B 3 , B 6 , and B 12 , pantothenic acid , biotin , and folate , possibly with inositol and choline ), vitamins A , C , and E , and zinc . However, there is no meaningful scientific to indicate that they are helpful.

Certain herbs have been used, traditionally in the form of eyedrops, to treat blepharitis and related conditions, including barberry, bayberry, bilberry , calendula , chamomile , eyebright , goldenseal , and passionflower . However, again, there is no meaningful evidence to indicate that they are effective. Furthermore, using herbal preparations in the eye is risky, and should not be attempted except under the supervision of a qualified health care provider.

Natural treatments used for seborrheic dermatitis or acne rosacea may also be worth considering, as these conditions are closely related to blepharitis.

Revision Information

  • 1

    Yalcin E, Altin F, Cinhuseyinoglue F, et al. N-acetylcysteine in chronic blepharitis. Cornea . 2002;21:164–168.