Blepharitis

Blepharitis is a common eye infection where the rims of the eyelids become inflamed, making them red and swollen. Symptoms can include burning, soreness or stinging in the eyes, crusty eyelashes and itchy eyelids.

Once blepharitis develops, it tends to recur. It is not usually serious, but severe cases may require antibiotics and should be referred to the pharmacist.

What are the treatment options?

Customers can cleanse the affected eye(s) twice a day using a cotton wool ball that has been dipped in cooled, boiled water. A number of OTC treatments are available to help minimise symptoms, including propamidine isethionate. Example: Brolene Eye Drops.

Styes

A stye is a small pimple or boil that appears as a painful lump on the outside or inside of the eyelid. They are fairly common and a person may have one or two styes during their lifetime.

Most styes get better without treatment within a few days or weeks. A warm compress held against the eye encourages the stye to release pus and heal more quickly.

Further treatment is not usually needed unless the customer has a very painful stye that is not getting better, in which case, refer to the pharmacist.