Eye Doctor for Blepharitis Fort Myers

Is your eyelid painful, red and swollen? If so, you may have blepharitis, a condition marked by inflammation of the eyelid. The exact cause of blepharitis is not entirely clear, but it most often occurs due to blockage of the tiny oil glands near the eyelashes. If you have the condition, you will need an eye doctor for blepharitis and, in Fort Myers, there is no better team of doctors than Elmquist Eye Group.

What is blepharitis?

Blepharitis is eyelid inflammation and it can happen in either one or both eyelids on the eyelid margin where the eyelashes grow. Bacteria often infect the oil glands which then become clogged, leading to a painful and irritated eyelid. People with rosacea, certain allergies and dandruff of the eyebrows (seborrheic dermatitis) often develop blepharitis.

Many patients have the sensation of grittiness or a foreign body in the eye. Most people try to clean the affected area, which can help, but, despite these hygienic efforts, blepharitis often does not improve. If your condition is not improving, it is time to see a doctor.

What is the treatment?

Many of our patients find that their oil glands are clogged over and over, leading to chronic blepharitis. The condition is not contagious and it does not cause vision loss or eye damage, but it can be difficult to treat.

At Elmquist Eye Group, Dr. Elmquist himself developed a revolutionary spa scrub treatment that one of our skilled Fort Myers physicians can perform on you right in the comfort of our offices. The treatment greatly reduces symptoms and speeds healing. This unique scrub is specially designed to unclog the small oil-secreting glands present on both the upper and lower eyelids. With the scrub, our physician clears excess oil and other contaminants from the glands, thus removing a potential source of infection.

The procedure is quick and painless and performed in one of our relaxing procedure rooms. We even have low lighting and relaxing background music, so it is much like a spa day. We will send you home with a kit for at-home use to continue to keep your eyelids oil-free. Our patients give the procedure very high marks, and they report significant improvement in symptoms. If you need repeated treatments, these spa scrubs are very safe so we can repeat the procedure as often as you need it.Complications

Left untreated, blepharitis can lead to more serious infections and other complications. For example, a painful sty may form at the base of the eyelashes, causing them to grow in abnormally or fall out altogether. Blepharitis also makes people more susceptible to pink eye (conjunctivitis) and infection in the eye.

Is your eyelid red, itchy and swollen? If so, you may have blepharitis. Visit an eye doctor in Fort Myers at Elmquist Eye Group. Come see our team at Elmquist Eye Group today. We are ready to help!