Lid Margin Disease

Lid margin disease may not be cured, but it can be controlled with a few simple daily hygienic measures:

• At least twice a day, place a warm, wet washcloth over the closed eyelids for a minute. Rewet it as it cools, two or three times. This will soften and loosen scales and debris. More importantly, it helps liquefy the oily secretions from the eyelids’ oil glands that help prevent the development of a chalazion, an inflamed lump in an eyelid oil gland.
• With your finger covered with a thin washcloth, cotton swab, or commercial lint-free pad, gently scrub the base of the lashes about 15 seconds per lid.

When medications are necessary, they may include:

• Artificial tears to relieve symptoms of dry eye. (These are eye drops that are available without a prescription.)
• Antibiotics (oral or topical) to decrease bacteria on the eyelids.
• Occasionally steroids (short-term) to decrease inflammation.

Medications alone are not sufficient; the application of warmth and detailed cleansing of the lashes daily is the key to controlling lid margin disease.