To-Do List: Brush Teeth! Floss! Scrub Lids?
Sounds silly, but it is really a good idea. Oh, if you think this is a sales pitch you should review the disclosure printed below.
The product is called SteriLid. It is a topical foam that is applied to the eyelid margins with the fingertip.
Here's the scoop: Healthy human skin is coated with bacteria. These germs usually live peacefully on the skin surface and bother nobody. Inflammation will begin if there is an overgrowth of bacteria or if the immune system gets agitated by the bugs. This inflammation interferes with healthy tear production, specifically the oil component. SteriLid kills the bacteria that normally inhabit the eyelids.
People with chronic blepharitis and acne rosacea should consider using this product in addition to whatever lid hygiene routine that has been prescribed for them. Of course, never make changes to any medical treatment plan without first consulting your doctor.
Did you know that endophthalmitis, a serious eye infection that can occur after intraocular surgery, is most often caused by the patient's own eyelid bacteria. Yep, those germs were inadvertently introduced into the sterile eye during the surgical procedures. To prevent this tragic complication, eye surgeons routinely instruct their preoperative patients to cleanse their lids at home prior to surgery, simply to reduce the overall number of bacteria. Pre-surgical scrubbing with a disinfectant usually finishes the job in the operating room. Again, this innovative product can help lower the risk of postoperative infection.
DISCLOSURE: Dr. Lloyd has nothing to disclose except advancing male-pattern baldness. Another balding physician, Dr. 'Inventor of the Artificial Heart' Jarvik, is a paid spokesman for the drug Lipitor. However, unlike Dr. Jarvik, Dr. Lloyd hates paid M.D. endorsements almost as much as he hates eye infections! Dr. Lloyd received nothing from the makers of SteriLid - not even free samples.
Related Topics: Technorati Tags: SteriLid, eyelids, blepharitis, acne rosacea, dry eye, health and wellness
7 Comments:
I wonder how much this costs, and how effective it is when compared to using a diluted "no-tears" shampoo.
My mother had problems with styes and her doctor recommended using baby shampoo.
p.s. I liked your disclaimer!
I know this is going to sound counterintuitive, but you should take your daughter to an allergist and have her tested for allergies, especially dust mite allergy.
I was diagnosed with Chronic Bleph/MGD a year ago. I saw 5 eye doctors, both Optom. and Opthalm. None suggested allergy because my eyes didn't itch. I did all the usual treatments, including eyelid scrubs, warm compresses, and oral and optical antibiotics. Nothing worked.
In the end, I told a friend of mine about my problems. She's an allergist, and she tested me for allergies. I found that all of my problems were caused by dust mite allergies. An optical antihistamine (Patanol), an oral antihistamine (Allegra), combined with vacuuming my mattress, vacuuming under my bed, washing my pillow, and regularly washing my sheets and bedding solved the problem completely.
Crud! Delete the first paragaph from my comment, above. The rest should remain.
I've tried SteriLid and it stings my eyes and left my skin red and irritated. It also smelled like Pledge and cost me $20.00! My eye doctor recommended OCuSOFT Lid Scrub PLUS that you leave-on to get the best results in killing the bugs on my lids. I was excited to learn that you can find it at Wal-Mart for $5 less than SteriLid. Let me know if anyone else has tried OCuSOFT.
I've been suffering with "the bleph" ever since I got out of a ten year relationship. All of a sudden I started having problems with my eyes. I thought it was stress...but it's two years later and I still have the problem. I went to the doctor and they told me to clean my eyes four times a day with baby shampoo etc... Like anonymous, I have tried many things but it keeps coming back!!! So, I'm going to go get tested for allergies...I'm grateful for your post anonymous....I think I'm going to try what you did. Be well!!!
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After been plagued with this most distressing problem I have seen a young Eye Dr recently who is treating me with a relatively new & strange sounding treatment that has to be done in his office that consists of tea tree oil and flax seed oil from health food store....I also wash my eyelids twice a day with tea tree oil shampoo (being careful not to get it in my eys only on the eylids...)also from the health food store....I am using a couple of prescriptions also....BUT my condition seems to be getting better.....this is a terrible problem...I have sympathy for anyone who has it....
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