Eyelid Inflammation (Blepharitis) Topic Guide

An allergic reaction is an overreaction to a harmless substance. Symptoms and signs of an allergic reaction include hives, rashes, swelling, itching, wheezing, nausea, and even anaphylactic shock in severe reactions. Treatment involves avoiding triggers, taking oral antihistamines, applying anti-inflammatory steroid creams, and using an EpiPen.

Cataracts is a condition usually associated with advanced age that impairs vision by causing cloudiness in the lens of the eye. Treatment involves surgery on the eye to replace the lens with an artificial one.

A chalazion is a lump in the eyelid that is caused by a blocked oil gland. Symptoms and signs include redness and pain. Applying warm compresses and lightly massaging the area several times a day helps to reduce swelling and promote drainage. Other treatment methods include antibiotic eyedrops, injections of steroids into the lump, or surgery to remove the chalazion.

Contact lenses are miraculous pieces of plastic that allow you to see without glasses. In most cases, contact lenses are used as a substitute for glasses, allowing you to dispense with them in many situations.

Common allergens include trees, mold, dust mites, grasses, pets, and weeds. Symptoms and signs of eye allergies include swelling around the eyes, eye redness, tearing, and mucous production. Treatment of eye allergies may involve eyedrops antihistamines and/or nasal steroids.

Eye pain has many causes, signs, symptoms, and treatments. It's also described as pain behind the eye, eye socket pain, or shooting pain in the eye. Headaches and sinusitis can be causes of eye pain.

Glaucoma can be caused by a number of eye diseases that can damage the optic nerve, typically by elevating pressure inside the eye, which is called intraocular pressure (IOP) or ocular hypertension. Symptoms begin slowly and include vision loss and irregularities, eye pain, headache, nausea, and vomiting. Beta-blockers, Alpha-adrenergic agonists, and prostaglandin analogs are drugs used to treat glaucoma. Sometimes surgery is necessary, especially with congenital glaucoma. The disease is not curable but can be managed.

Glaucoma is usually high pressure inside the eye that damages the optic nerve and can result in permanent vision loss. While high pressure inside the eye, damage to the optic nerve and vision loss are common criteria for diagnosing glaucoma, glaucoma can be present without all three of these criteria. The two main types of glaucoma are open-angle and angle-closure glaucoma. Glaucoma may be symptomless until significant permanent vision damage has occured, but may show symptoms as well, including pain, redness, haloes, and blurred vision.

Skin cancer, the most common cancer, happens when skin cells start growing out of control, usually as a result of too much ultraviolet light exposure from the sun or tanning booths. Of the three types of skin cancer -- basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and melanoma -- melanoma is the deadliest. Surgery is the most common treatment for skin cancer.

A stye (sty) is an infection of the eyelid, resulting from a blocked oil gland. Seborrhea, improper eye makeup removal, use of infected cosmetics, poor eyelid hygiene, stress, hormonal changes, and Blepharitis, rosacea, and meibomitis may cause styes. Symptoms include a lump on the eyelid, swelling, pain, redness, tenderness, blurred vision, pus, and a scratchy sensation on the eyeball. Treatment may involve warm compresses, scrubbing the eyelid with a mild soap, and discontinuing wearing contact lenses and eye makeup.

Blepharitis is eyelid inflammation. Signs and symptoms of blepharitis include crusting, flaking, and itching of the eyelid margins, eye pain, and sensitivity to light. Treatment incorporates applying warm compresses, proper eyelid hygiene, and the application of antibiotic ointment.