Blepharitis is when the eyelids on one or both eyes are inflamed. They go red, swollen and you may get crust forming. Anyone can get it, though it's more common in older people. It's a chronic long condition that comes and goes. It's rarely serious if you keep on top of it.
Here's what happens when you get a blepharitis eyelid infection.
There are a few different types of blepharitis. Each has different causes, but they often lead to similar symptoms like itchy, sore or crusty eyes.
This affects the outer edges of your eyelids. It’s often linked to skin conditions like dandruff or rosacea, and can also be caused by bacteria or allergies. You might notice flakes or crusts at the base of your lashes.
This affects the inner edges of your eyelids, where your meibomian glands sit. These glands normally release oil into your tears, but if they’re blocked or not working properly, it can lead to irritation and blurry vision.
This type is caused by tiny mites called Demodex that live in your eyelashes and hair follicles. In small numbers, they’re harmless. But if there are too many, they can irritate your eyes and cause inflammation.
This is when you have more than one type at the same time – most commonly a mix of anterior and posterior blepharitis.
Book an eye testOur optometrists see blepharitis regularly in clinic, so they know exactly what to look out for and how to manage it. In this video, one of our experts talks through the key signs, what causes the condition, and how it can affect your daily life. They’ll also explain simple steps you can take to ease symptoms and stop flare‑ups from coming back including eyelid hygiene, warm compresses and other treatments that might help.
Book an eye testBlepharitis might 'look' different, depending on the underlying cause. But here are the main blepharitis symptoms that people often experience.
Flares can make your eyelids sore, swollen, puffy and warm due to increased blood flow.
Inflammation or flaking skin around the eyes can cause your eyelids to feel itchy and irritated.
You may get a crust building up along the edges of your eyelids and eyelashes. It's usually worse in the morning. If you try to remove it, you might get a small amount of bleeding.
If you get crusty eyelids, they may stick together. This is often worse in the morning after you wake up.
It might feel like there’s sand in your eye, often caused by dry eyes because of the blepharitis.
Learn more about the feeling of something in the eye
The veins in the sclera (the whites of your eyes) may become more noticeable when your blepharitis flares up, causing red eye.
Learn more about red eye
You may find yourself blinking more than usual. Blepharitis can cause problems with the quality of your tears, so you need to blink more to keep your eyes lubricated.
If blepharitis affects the quality of your tears, they may break up too quickly. This can lead to excessive watering or tears coming out of your eyes.
Learn more about watery eyes
You might find your eyes are more sensitive to light when you have a flare up of blepharitis. This may be related to problems with tear quality.
Book an eye testWe still don't know exactly what causes blepharitis, and why some people get it more than others. It’s likely that it's a combination of factors, rather than one single trigger. Below are some of the most common blepharitis causes.
Anterior blepharitis often involves Staphylococcus bacteria, which normally lives on skin but can flare up in some people.
Seborrheic dermatitis can cause flaking and irritation on the eyelids, often linked to anterior blepharitis.
This common skin condition causes flushing and redness on your face. If you get rosacea on your eyelids, it may contribute to developing blepharitis.
These microscopic organisms can live on your eyelashes, the follicles they grow out of, and in the oil glands of your eyes. If you get a build‑up of them, they can cause inflammation.
If you don’t produce enough tears, it can lead to irritation and raise the risk of blepharitis.
Learn more about dry eye syndrome
These oil glands can get blocked, causing dryness and are the main cause of posterior blepharitis.
Pollen, pet hair, dust or chemicals can trigger blepharitis in some people.
Learn more about hay fever
If you use make‑up a lot, or don't clean it off fully, then this could potentially block your glands or irritate your eyelids. Mascara and eyeliner are particularly troublesome.
At certain life stages (such as puberty, pregnancy or menopause) your hormone levels fluctuate a lot. This might increase your chances of things like oily skin, which in turn makes it more likely you'll develop blepharitis.
If you have naturally oily skin, you may be more likely to develop blepharitis than others.
Some medications might affect your body's hormones or lower your natural defences against bacteria living on your skin. This could make it more likely you'll develop blepharitis.
Book an eye testIf you get your blepharitis seen by an optometrist, they will help you manage the condition. This should reduce how often you get flare‑ups and make them less uncomfortable when they do happen. If not properly treated, blepharitis can lead to other eye conditions.
Over the long term, repeated flare‑ups can make your eyelashes fall out, grow in the wrong direction, or they might lose colour.
Due to repeated damage caused by blepharitis, the edges of your eyelids may develop scarring.
A stye is a painful lump that grows at the base of your eyelashes. It is usually caused by a bacterial infection of an eyelash follicle. Blepharitis can lead to the development of styes.
Learn more about stye
A chalazion is a lump that grows on the inside of your eyelid. It's caused by a blocked oil gland, and is usually painless.
Learn more about chalazion
If you think you have symptoms of blepharitis, book an appointment with your optometrist. Our optometrists are very experienced at diagnosing eye conditions like blepharitis and have equipment that helps work out what's going on.
The optometrist will ask when your symptoms started, whether you've noticed any patterns (such as eyelid crusting that's worse in the morning), and the symptoms you're experiencing. They may also ask about recent changes in your lifestyle, work, medications, or general health.
A slit lamp is a powerful microscope with a light attached. It allows the optometrist to examine your eyelids in detail. It helps them spot issues like scaling, mites, eyelash problems, and other blepharitis symptoms.
Blepharitis can reduce the quality of your tears. A tear break‑up test measures how long your tears stay intact after a blink. If the tear breaks up in under 10 seconds, it often suggests there's an issue with tear quality.
In rare cases, usually in a hospital setting, a doctor might take a swab from your eyelid if they suspect an infection is causing your blepharitis. This would be sent to a lab to check for bacteria or viruses — but it’s not something that’s typically done during a routine eye test.
Blepharitis can often be treated with some simple home remedies. However, if it's not clearing up or keeps coming back, it's worth booking an appointment with your optometrist. Here are the main kinds of blepharitis treatment.
If your blepharitis is caused by another condition (such as acne rosacea or dandruff), then your optometrist or GP will aim to treat this first.
There are some different kinds of eyelid wipes you can buy at pharmacies and optometrists that help with cleaning blepharitis crust on your eyelids. You use them to gently wipe your eyelids and clear skin flakes.
This is especially helpful if your blepharitis is caused by blocked meibomian glands or you get a crust building up on your eyelids. Hold a warm, microwaveable compress to your closed eyelids to loosen up the oil or flakes.
Gently press and move your eyelids in circles for 30 seconds to help clear blocked glands.
If your blepharitis gives you dry eyes, then artificial tears can really help. You drop them into your eyes a few times each day, and this can reduce the sore, dry, scratchy feeling.
If your blepharitis is caused by a build‑up of bacteria, your optometrist might prescribe you with an antibiotic eye drop or cream that will fight off the infection.
There is some evidence that omega‑3 fatty acids, which can be found in oily fish, walnuts, flaxseeds and chia seeds (as well as supplements), can help improve blepharitis symptoms. Speak to your GP first before starting any supplements.
If you find the inflammation very painful, a cool compress may relieve the discomfort. Put a clean, damp cloth in the fridge then, once it's nice and cool, hold it over your eyelids.
Blepharitis is often a chronic condition and that will recur from time to time. Unfortunately, there isn't a permanent cure in most cases. But there are some things you can do to reduce the chances of it coming back.
If you're prone to blepharitis (for example, you have oily skin), a daily eyelid cleansing routine can really help. See the suggestions in the treatments section above.
While it's tempting to rub a crusty or dry eye, this won't relieve the symptoms for long and could cause damage to your eyes. Try using a cold or warm compress instead.
If you use make‑up, it might be worth thinking about changing your habits. Ideally, it's best to avoid make‑up altogether ‑ or maybe only using things like mascara or eyeliner on special occasions.
Tiredness and stress can trigger flare‑ups. Aim for good sleep (7‑9 hours) and try to manage stress as best you can.
If you have blepharitis, it’s helpful to see your optometrist regularly. They can monitor your condition and watch for any potential complications.
Book an eye testUnfortunately, there isn’t a quick cure for blepharitis. It is usually a long‑term condition with recurring flare‑ups. However, flare‑ups can often be managed effectively and brought to a close faster. Treatment typically starts with good eyelid hygiene. Eyelid cleansing wipes can also help remove crust and flakes. Warm compresses can loosen eyelid crusting and blocked oil glands.
No, blepharitis isn't contagious. You can't give it to someone else by being near them or touching them.
If you have blepharitis and a swollen upper eyelid, it could be a sign that one of your meibomian glands (which produce oil that stabilises your tears) might be blocked. But it could also be a sign of a complication, such as a stye or a chalazion. It's important to get any changes in your eyes checked by an optometrist.
It depends on the underlying cause. For example, if your blepharitis is caused by a rosacea outbreak, then it might go away as the outbreak fades away too. But other times, it might not go away by itself. For example, if your blepharitis is caused by blockages in your meibomian glands, they'll often need to be treated with things like warm compresses.
While the risk of blepharitis could potentially be increased by poor cleanliness, it's unclear if this is a major factor. Most people who don't have blepharitis don't regularly wash their eyelids either. So it seems unlikely that poor eyelid hygiene is the main trigger. Some people might be more prone to blepharitis due to things out of their control ‑ such as having naturally oily skin, their age, or the environment they live in.
If you have blepharitis, there are certain things that could make it worse. Try not to pick at any crust on your eyelids with your fingernails, as this could cause infections (use soapy warm water or specialised wipes instead). You should also avoid rubbing the eyelids, as this can cause damage to the eye itself. Try to avoid alcohol, poor sleep, tobacco or allergens when you're suffering from a flare‑up.
The two main categories of blepharitis are anterior blepharitis (affecting the front of the eyelids) and posterior blepharitis (affecting the back or inside of the eyelids). A third type is mixed blepharitis, where you get symptoms on the front and back of your eyelids.
Yes, baby shampoo can be a good option for cleaning your eyelids to prevent a flare‑up of blepharitis, or help with gently cleaning crust. Mix 2‑3 drops with a small cup of cooled, previously boiled water, then gently massage the eyelid using a wipe you dip in the shampoo mix.
AA Members are entitled to a free eye test (valued at $60), once every two years. Remember to present your AA Membership card in‑store.
Cleveland Clinic (2022) Blepharitis Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/10032‑blepharitis
Johns Hopkins Medicine (2025) Blepharitis Available at: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions‑and‑diseases/blepharitis
National Eye Institute (2024) Blepharitis Available at: https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn‑about‑eye‑health/eye‑conditions‑and‑diseases/blepharitis
Mayo Clinic (2022) blepharitis Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases‑conditions/blepharitis/symptoms‑causes/syc‑20370141
Health New Zealand (2025) Eyelid inflammation (blepharitis) Available at: https://info.health.nz/conditions‑treatments/eyes/eyelid‑inflammation‑blepharitis
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Diabetes can affect the blood vessels at the back of your eye, leading to diabetic retinopathy and vision problems.
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Do your eyes feel tried, sore or gritty? Dry eye could be the culprit, making vision cloudy, or as if you have glazed eyes.
A chalazion is a blocked oil gland in the eyelid that causes a firm, usually painless lump and can lead to eyelid swelling or blurred vision.
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