Eyes are the most delicate amongst the five sensory organs. Even when a small particle enters our eye, it causes immense distraction. Eyes should be taken care of the most, as they mediate in our vision of the outside world. Eyelid disorders are certain conditions that affect the eyelid. Let us take a quick look at some of them.
Our eyelids are the thinnest skin on our body. They are very fragile and need attention to keep away from any infections. Most eyelid disorders do not harm the vision, but constant blinking and rubbing causes irritation. Bacteria are also known to cause a lot of eye infections. Any eye infection must be taken care of on time, as it might lead to further complications. Some of the common eyelid problems are blepharitis, stye, chalazion, entropion, ectropion, eyelid edema, etc. The following passages provide in-depth information about each one of them.
Blepharitis
This is a very common disorder which leads to the inflammation of eyelids. It is mostly caused due to an unhygienic lifestyle, dust particles or any other pollutants entering our eyes that stick to the eyelids, and bacterial infections. It is caused on the edge of the eyelid from where the eyelashes grow. This disorder is basically of two types, one is anterior blepharitis and the other is posterior blepharitis. The anterior type affects the outer side of the eyelid from where the eyelashes grow, and affecting the inner eyelid is posterior blepharitis.
Causes
Anterior blepharitis is caused due to scalp and eyebrows dandruff, inflammation of the eyelids, or by staphylococcal bacteria. Posterior blepharitis is caused due to the improper functioning of the oil glands in the eyelid that discharge more oil sometimes causing inflammation, redness of the skin around the eyes, etc. Blepharitis that is caused by bacteria is known as staphylococcal blepharitis. Allergies can also result in this eye disorder.
Symptoms
The symptoms of blepharitis are itchy eyelids, red eyes, watery eyes with redness and burning sensation, and a feeling of some foreign particle being present.
Stye
Styes, also known as hordeolum, are short-term and minor bacterial infections that appear at the edge of the eyelid when the glands present there get clogged. A pimple-like lump may appear in the region where the glands are clogged. If this lump appears inside the eyelid, it is necessary to consult an eye specialist.
Causes
It is caused by a bacterium called staphylococcus. Sometimes stress can also cause stye. Application of excess eye makeup can give rise to the symptoms of stye. People having chronic blepharitis are highly prone to being infected by hordeolum.
Symptoms
The symptoms of stye should not be ignored as it can lead to chalazion. The symptoms include watery eyes, pain in or around the eyes, and itching or redness of the eye. A stye usually appears in the form of a reddish bum that looks like a pimple. The initial symptom of this disorder is that the eye gets sensitive to light or might feel bruised. A yellowish pus containing a spot might develop. This spot too looks like a small pimple; however, if it is not treated on time, it might harm the vision.
Chalazion
Many people think that stye and chalazion are the same; however, they differ from each other. Chalazia are less painful and tend to be chronic. They tend to point inside the eyelid instead of on the eyelid like the styes. Chalazia cures within a few months if treatment is administered, otherwise it can reabsorb within a span of two years. Chalazia that do not respond to topical medicament is generally treated with surgery as a last resort.
Causes
It is a cyst in the eyelid that is caused due to the inflammation of the blocked meibomiam gland (glands that produce tears).
Symptoms
Occurrence of a small lump pointing towards the conjunctival side of the eyelid. A reddish elevated area is seen appearing. There might be further complications, such as blurred vision due to the pressure of the lump on the eyeball and swelling of the eyelid.
Entropion
It is a genetic disorder wherein the eyelids fold inwards and mostly affects the lower eyelid. It is mostly found in dogs.
Causes
The causes of entropion vary depending upon the type. Congenital entropion is a very rare condition that occurs right from birth. Spastic entropion involves the contraction of muscles around the eyes and it happens in an uncontrollable manner. In involutional entropion, mostly the lower eyelid turns inwards due to aging (because of the changes in the muscles around the eyes). Cicatricial entropion is caused because of the scars on the eyelid.
Symptoms
The symptoms of entropion are watering of the eye, feeling of dirt in the eye, discharge of fluid or pus, red eye, irritated eye, etc.
Ectropion
This is a condition in which the eyelid turns outwards. Ectropion can affect any of the eyelids (upper or lower) or both at the same time. It can lead to burning red eyes.
Causes
The causes of ectropion are slacking of tissues and weakened muscles around the eyes, facial paralysis (Bell’s palsy), or it can be a birth defect too, but very rarely.
Symptoms
In this case, water in the eyes might not drain due to constant watering of the eyes. This is the most common symptom found in many eyelid problems. Watery eyes are indicative of an infection. If the bacteria are not cleaned properly, they cause watery eyes. Eyes become very sensitive to the wind and light. Dry eyes are also one of the symptoms of ectropion.
Eyelid edema
Eye edema is another name for eye swelling. There are several causative factors that can result in eye swelling. A few have been mentioned below.
Causes
The causes for eye edema are insect bites, allergic reactions from food, chemicals, eye makeup, plants, etc., or by bacterial infections. If not treated on time, it might hamper the vision.
Symptoms
Swelling around the eye area which leads to a reddish skin, itchy eyelids, and burning of the eyelids due to the insect bite.
These disorders may lead to further complications if they are not treated on time with proper care and medication. It is necessary to wash your eyes before going to sleep and after you wake up to soothe them. Stress can also cause disorders in the eye, therefore, it is better to avoid stress. Keep the eyelids clean by washing them with baby shampoos as they are mild on them. Our vision is a gift, so maintaining it is in our hands.
Disclaimer: This HealthHearty article is for informative purposes only and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.
