My experience with blepharitis - may help others

So perhaps there is a link between a poor immune system & this problem with eyes. At the moment I think my eyes are improving, I am cleaning with the wetones as recommended on here.

Did not bother with the Baby Shampoo.

I've read your post with great interest. I'm wondering whether there are different strains of Blepharitis. The reason I'm wondering this is because most of us who have been posting on this topic is we all seem to differ with our symptoms.

I only seem to have it mainly on my right eye. I too have a bad immune system and am regularly down on my vitamins and suffer candida too.

I've been using the wet ones and drops from my GP. I have been finding the more I use these products the worse my right eye seems to be.

This is now the worst I have ever had it and my eye lid is now quite swollen and more lashes have come out I'm now going to stop putting anything on my eyes other than give them a good wipe with warm water a couple of times a day and just see if it settles down.

I almost feel as if I have been feeding it! It's very strange. Has anyone else found anything like this with treatment?

I think what I'd love for people to take from my post is, get yourself tested for anemia and get it treated if your iron is low!

Also Bambicat, in my readings after diagnosis, I gleaned that there are 3 main causes of blepharditis: fungal, bacterial and demodex mites. From my past work at a skincare company, I know that all 3 of those pathogens flourish in the bodies of people who are immunocompromised.

I also understand from other readings that sometimes what is diagnosed as blepharditis is actually ocular rosacea or allergies. I have no knowledge or comment on those.

My blepharditis did not look like most of the photos I saw online (which were of very puffy, red, wet looking eyelids), but it did match the descriptions in the list of symptoms.

My eyelids were red, greasy, flaky and scaly, and the skin was noticeably thickened. I had very little swelling except on odd occasions where the 'condition' (infection?) seemed to go up into the area around my eyes, with no redness but with swelling and extreme itchiness.

I experienced no pain, but an agonising itch and lots of tears. I only had pus about 4 days out of the 4 months I suffered, and it was very little (I have had more serious eye infections and I do not think my condition was bacterial). For the first few weeks when it was at its worst, my eyelids did crust over and stick shut overnight.

Hope that helps!

I have candida too from a strong antibiotic and didn't take probiotics after using it until it was too late.

I have someone in a rest home who has that gunk (yellow) on her eyes and they were pasted shut. I could not get if off with water so I thought why not. I pulled out a WET ONE and used it on her eyes as she kept touching her eyes. I do it 2-3 times a week only as she is old and skin is thin. It keeps it under control and takes it away when I use the wipes. It has to bacterial or the wipes would not work.

People are allergic to the wipes. So anyone who is allergic to shampoo, fabric softners, hand wipes or even spermicidal jellies should not use them. If you are not allergic (try oin skin of face (small spot) and hands, why not give it a try and see if you get improvement.

Many people who have different symptoms have gotten relief. Honjon on this site had the oily problem. He used a different handwipe but it was still an ammonium salt or compound.

I hope this informatiion helps.

Lynda79

I've read your amazing and successful solution on a number of threads on this forum... I'm so happy you've found a solution that works for you and that seems to be a successful treatment for others as well.

If I'd seen your posts a month ago when I had given up on other methods I would have been using it in a second!

But I *am* really glad that I got a blood test, since anemia in my case *seems* to be the underlying cause, and I think for myself, it's better to be treating the underlying cause rather than just the symptoms.

All the best with your journey to a cure!

It's all very interesting! Firstly Lynda - I am taking antibiotics on a daily basis. I have a condition which has to be kept under control with taking 1 antibiotic each day. I have 3 different types which are rotated so my system doesn't become immune to them. I think I might see what happens if I stop taking them for a while.

Natalie - you mention Demodex Mites. I work with feral cats so that's another thing to think about (not that I will ever give up my voluntary work with them) I don't think any of them are carrying mites and they are regularly treated for fleas & mites but I suppose it only takes 1 mite as with the cats who may have allergy's to fleas - it only takes 1 bite from a flea to cause problems with their coat's.

I think I should see a Vet!! Only Joking! but you just never know really do you what causes the flare up of this Blepharitis?

My eye lid has a swollen white ridge just where my eyelashes are and little white lumps. I've noticed my eyes water for no reason. There must be different strains of it.

I know what you mean Lynda about your elderly relative as I used to nurse the elderly and often came across the same problem with many of them. Their eyes used to matt together and could only be opened with gentle bathing.

I can see me going to work with the cats wearing Swimming Goggles!!

I have learned that Blepharitis is caused by staphylococcus. The wipes with .03% Benzethonium Chloride killed it and I found that these Quats (ammonium salt compounds) kill staphylococcus. Google these words and you will find the same info.

Someone on another site said the UK wipes have .3% in them and that is a huge difference and they say not to even put on the face.

I used the ones with .03%. Please order on-line to get those Wet Ones.

Thought you might like this info.

Thinking of you,

Lynda79