blehparitis - please help

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Hello, my 10 yr old dd has been diagnosed with blepharitis at the beginning of April. She had been prescribed fusidic acid to rub on her eyelid margins. Now her blepharitis is flaring up again. This time eye doctor said to apply warm compress and lid cleaning. Three times I've taken her to the eye hospital and not much advice was given. Her eyes seems to be fine during the day but in the evening her eyes will be a bit red. Could this due to dry eyes? If so, which eye drops would you suggest? Doctors didn't mention anything about her eyes being dry so I'm not sure whether it will be safe to give it to her? Also, anyone know where I can buy an eye mask instead of using a hot towel? Will children eventually ourgrow blehparitis?

Thanks for your advice, if any.

Does she have any other symptoms? Afaik this can be related to allergies/intolerances.

Almost everyone will have a period of blepharitis at one point or another. Most people do grow out of it.

No tears shampoo can be used as well to clear the deposits and kill bacteria.
Warm compress and massage may need to be done long term to avoid recurrences.

Blepharitis can be linked with a cause of a type of dry called meibonium gland dysfunction.
However, this would have other symptoms and doesn't tend to respond to antibacterial treatment.
So I'd stick with with blepharitis treatment for now.

Regards the eye mask, I'd be careful as you need to keep it very clean or replace often.
Make sure it's something you can out in the washing machine.

if her eyes are red in the evening it could be hayfever as the pollen count is higher in the evenings. see if doc will give you some sodium cromoglicate drops

The problem with sodium cromoglycate is that it is is a mast cell stabiliser.

Which means it takes 4-6 weeks of use to get a good effect.
Not great for an "on the off chance it helps" approach.

It is also very likely one of the hospital visits would identify the characteristic inflammatory response found in allergic eye disease and diagnosed it had it been there.

DH was told to bathe his eyes in baby shampoo
Not sure about growing out of it as such but he has times when his is bad, and other times, like now, when years can go past without it bothering him

Sorry, I mean wash his eyeslids in very dilute baby shampoo
Just to clarify!!

My 10 year old DS has it as well. He has to clean his eyes at least once per day with a flannel and baby shampoo diluted in warm water. As far as I am aware its a lifelong condition.
He is very resentful of the fact he has to clean his eyes but is slowly starting to take responsibilty himself.

Thanks for all your replies, ladies. I'm usually on Bounty, but recently they are a bit quiet so I've now joined Mumsnet.

My dd has also been diagnosed with allergic conjunctivitis and is now on Opatanol. Hopefully this will sort out her red eyes in the evenings.

I will continue with the warm compress and lid cleaning with warm boiled water as advised by the doctor at Moorfields Hospital. My dd does not like baby shampoo as she find it stings her eyes. Will salt water do as well?

Welcome :)

I wouldn't use salt water, miught be a bit harsh. I would imagine whatever treatment you've got is best

Thanks, Stately.

Hi therugratref,

Is your ds on any eye drops and does he gets flare ups often? Do you need to take him to the doctor everytime he gets a flare up?

Thanks.

I had this as a child, the doctor said i would always have it and wouldn't be able to wear make up as an adult. My mum started bathing my eyes in milk every morning and night and it was gone in a couple of weeks :) Never had it since. Worth a try!

I have blepharitis and when I am in a flare up my eyes are very sore and red by the end of the day. No great suggestions I am afraid but as the flare clears my eyes are nowhere near as sore and red in the evenings. Sometimes I just have to admit defeat and go to bed early to rest my eyes. Hope your DD gets some relief soon.