Blepharitis Diet, Foods To Avoid

Blepharitis is a condition which is characterized by inflammation of the eyelids. Your eyelids become red, feel itchy, puffy and swollen and are scaly to touch. There isn’t a cure for this condition, but through maintenance of personal hygiene and healthy diet, blepharitis can be prevented. A diet for blepharitis is typically aimed at reducing the symptoms of the condition and preventing complications. Doctors usually recommend staying off junk food and consuming a healthy diet if you have blepahritis, as this can help boost your immunity.

Here are some suggestions for preparing an ideal blepharitis diet:

Consume lots of vitamin A: Vitamin A is known to be good for your eyes. It contains a nutrient known as alpha lipoic acid, which is an antioxidant that helps prevent free radical damage in the body. Vitamin A also contains beta carotene, which can help treat blepharitis naturally. Doctors recommend that belpharitis patients consume about 10,000 to 25,000 IU of beta carotene every day. Carrots, gooseberries, spinach, papaya, cauliflower, and lettuce are some of the vitamin A rich foods.
Include essential fatty acids in your diet: Essential fatty acids can help reduce cholesterol in the blood. They can also help reduce pain and inflammation associated with blepharitis. Essential fatty acids are found in foods such as black current seed oil, evening primrose oil, and flaxseed oil. All of these are available in the form of supplements.
Add sources of selenium and zinc to your diet: Selenium is known to be an excellent antioxidant and has a similar effect as that of alpha lipoic acid. Zinc is vital for improving the immune system and healing damage done by infections. Some of the foods rich in zinc are oysters, beef, crab, fortified breakfast cereals, yogurt, and almonds. Brazil nuts, turkey, salmon, cod, eggs, and sunflower seeds are foods rich in selenium. While the symptoms are acute, you need to consult your doctor and consume zinc and selenium as per recommendation. As the symptoms of blepharitis subside, you can reduce the amount of selenium and zinc you consume.
Consume vitamins B and C: The B complex vitamins perform a bevy of vital functions in the body. They are, therefore, extremely essential and should be included in a healthy diet aimed at treating blepharitis. Vitamin C boosts immunity and helps the body fight infections naturally. Some of the foods rich in vitamin C are kiwi, oranges and limes.

Foods To Avoid

While keeping in mind the foods to eat, you also need to know about the foods to avoid when suffering from blepharitis. Avoid alcohol and caffeine completely as these can worsen the symptoms of your condition. Always consult your doctor before using over the counter drugs, home remedies, herbal supplements, or herbs.

Symptoms, Causes, Treatment For Blepharitis

Treatment:

Maintaining proper hygiene is the best treatment for blepharitis. Wash your eyes with a mild cleanser or a baby shampoo every day. Take care to cleanse on the edges of the eye lids as well. This will help remove the oils and microbes that may cause the inflammation of the eyelids. Your doctor may recommend an antibiotic in case the bacterial overgrowth is too much. You may also use antibiotic ointments recommended by your doctor to treat the inflammation of the eyelids. In addition to these treatment methods, a healthy diet that boosts immunity is a must. This will not only help the body heal itself, but also protect it from further attacks of bacteria and other disease causing pathogens.

Home Remedies:

While there are a lot of home remedies for blepharitis, none of them are based on any scientific evidence. Maintaining good hygiene is the simplest home remedy and prevention measure for this disorder. Clean your eyes daily, and if you notice any inflammation around the eyelids, use a warm compress on and around your eyes. This will help contain the inflammation and will also provide temporary relief. Use a warm washcloth with mild cleansers to clean away oils and debris from your eyes. Be extremely careful while cleaning your eyes though, as any carelessness can cause scratching of the corneas and this could lead to complications. Dandruff often causes blepharitis, and if this is so in your case try to control dandruff by keeping your skin well hydrated. Use an antidandruff shampoo and oil your scalp regularly to keep dandruff at bay.

Causes:

Blepharitis is a condition of the eyes, caused by an overgrowth of bacteria which may be normally found on the skin. This is caused due to bacterial infections or seborrheic dermatitis. Both the dermatitis and the bacterial infection usually occur at the same time. Blepharitis may also be caused when the oil glands near the eyelids produce too much oil. Lice and allergies in the eyelashes are often found to be associated with this condition. Repeatedly occurring styes and chalazia may also trigger blepharitis.

Symptoms:

Since blepharitis affects the eyelids, it can cause them to appear red and irritated. The base of the eyelashes may appear scaly and crusty. The eyelids also become swollen and you may experience a burning and itching feeling in them. The eyes may also feel itchy as if you had sawdust in them.

References:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002586/
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/blepharitis/DS00633/DSECTION=lifestyle-and-home-remedies
http://www.goodhope.org.uk/departments/eyedept/blepharitis.htm#hd

Submitted on May 8, 2012