Artificial tear lubricating drops are recommended and may very well suffice for relatively mild cases. Artificial tears are non-prescription and available in preservative and preservative-free variants. There are a number of manufacturers. The products range from those that are very runny to drops that are much more viscous. Some New York City patients may prefer one particular variant over another. Dry Eye/Blepharitis patients that will have to use lubricating drops frequently or for a prolonged period however are encouraged to avoid drops with preservatives.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids like fish oil or flax oil is good for the mucous membranes and also for the eyes.  These are readily available over-the-counter and are taken orally.  Flaxseed oil is reported to be more effective in most cases and has the added advantage of being somewhat more palatable than fish oil.

Steroidal Drops may be used for more moderate cases but they do not offer a permanent solution as they cannot be taken in perpetuity.  Restasis is another anti-inflammatory medicated drop that may provide some relief and help restore the meibomian glands to a more proper function.

Moisture Goggles may be used at night time, especially for patients whose eyelids are not shutting properly, who have dry eye/blepharitis problem.  The goggles slow down the evaporation of the tear film, creating a moisture barrier that protects the eyes while sleeping. Their benefits can provide comfort to dry eye/blepharitis patients that will last right through the next day.

Punctal Plugs placed on the corner of the eyelids, on the tiny drainage ports where tears are siphoned from the eye’s surface, are very efficient in slowing down the rate at which the tear film is siphoned off and can provide much relief in more severe cases.

An in-office procedure that clears and unclogs blocked glands, allowing them to heal and return to a more healthy state can provide much assistance and benefit to patients suffering from MGD (meibomian gland dysfunction).

Lipiflow is another relatively new, in-office procedure for patients suffering from dry eye as a consequence of meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).  The twelve minute, in-office procedure, stimulates, gently heats and massages the lids and glands directly.  Lipiflow is a much more immediate approach vs. gradual benefits that may be derived from protracted and labor-intensive use of warm compresses.  It cleans out and clears blocked meibomian glands in order to restore a more adequate function.

Testosterone Cream is recommended for chronic sufferers to address the imbalance of too much estrogen and not enough testosterone that is at the root of meibomian gland dysfunction.  The cream, which has been used quite successfully, is applied topically on the lids themselves, at bedtime, to restore the glands to a healthy state and provide much-needed relief to dry eye/blepharitis.

BlephEx is a painless, in-office treatment that Dr. Belmont performs for the management and prevention of blepharitis, a pathological condition where the eyelids and lid margins become inflamed due to an overgrowth of the normal bacteria that live on the lids and base of the eyelashes.

Blepharitis is considered to be the most undertreated eye disease.  As it progresses, the ailment leads to redness, itching, constant eye irritation, inflammation, and swelling.  Left untreated, the biofilm build up becomes a host to bacterial exotoxins that will adversely affect other structures in the lids including the tear ducts, lacrimal and meibomian glands and lead to evaporative dry eye disease, contact lens intolerance, meibomian gland dysfunction and corneal ulceration.

BlephEx thoroughly cleans the lid margins and removes the sugary biofilm that lets bad bacteria flourish.  In the process, the overall health of the eyelids is greatly improved.  With a healthier biofilm, the meibomian glands and tear ducts can begin to function more effectively once again.  As this happens, the outer lipid layer of the tear film is stabilized and stops evaporating too rapidly and causing dry spots.  Patients can start to produce more of their own tears to finally find relief from the chronic symptoms of blepharitis and dry eye disease.

Research conducted at Harvard Medical School confirmed several years ago, that an imbalance of too much estrogen and not enough testosterone is linked to the presence of dry eyes, meibomian gland dysfunction and blepharitis.  Women using birth control pills, for instance, will often experience problems with dry eyes.  Testosterone plays a crucial role in producing the oil, the lipid constituent that lubricates, covers and protects the tear film on the eyes.   Developing a testosterone eye drop to address dry eye, MGD, and blepharitis, which concerns the lids rather than the eye itself, has not been very effective for any number of reasons.  Most notably, only 1 to 3 percent of an eye drop actually penetrates the eye to reach the intended target tissue, the remainder will drain away.  The eye’s rapid turnover of tears also creates a problem for any eye drop.  It’s no surprise that topical creams have proven to be far superior to drops for the treatment of dry eye, MGD, and blepharitis, as they provide longer residence time at the site of application and also ensure much better penetration.

Doctor Belmont states that “correcting the imbalance locally, with topical testosterone cream, applied directly to the skin on the eyelid has been very successful for our chronic sufferers.”

If you are a blepharitis patient living in the Manhattan/ New York City area, you can find the right eye treatments at Belmont Eye Center. All appointments can be scheduled online or by calling our office at (212) 486-2020. Board certified ophthalmologist, Sandra Belmont, is always accepting new patients.

Human amniotic membrane has been shown to provide much benefit in the treatment of certain conjunctival and corneal conditions.