close window
Housecall Archives
About our e-newsletters
- Free e-newsletters
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- We do not share your e-mail address
Housecall, our weekly general-interest e-newsletter, keeps you up to date on a wide variety of health topics with timely, reliable, practical information, recipes, blogs, questions and answers with Mayo Clinic experts and more. Our biweekly topic-specific e-newsletters also include blogs, questions and answers with Mayo Clinic experts, and other useful information that will help you manage your health.
Housecall Archives
close window
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
Causes
By Mayo Clinic staffBlepharitis occurs when tiny oil glands located near the base of the eyelashes malfunction. Blepharitis is often a chronic condition, meaning that it may require long-term care.
Diseases and conditions that can cause blepharitis include:
- Seborrheic dermatitis — dandruff of the scalp and eyebrows
- A bacterial infection
- Malfunctioning oil glands in your eyelid
- Rosacea — a skin condition characterized by facial redness
- Allergies, including allergic reactions to eye medications, contact lens solutions or eye makeup
- Eyelash mites
Blepharitis may be caused by a combination of factors.
References
- Blepharitis. American Academy of Ophthalmology. http://one.aao.org/asset.axd?id=ce7ddf62-f3a3-45dd-b346-f7e2bb442490. Accessed Jan. 12, 2010.
- Blepharitis. National Eye Institute. http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/blepharitis/blepharitis.asp. Accessed Jan. 12, 2010.
- Blepharitis. American Optometric Association. http://www.aoa.org/Blepharitis.xml. Accessed Jan. 12, 2010.
- Robertson DM (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Jan. 19, 2010.
Find Mayo Clinic on