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Blepharitis - Background information
What is it?
- Blepharitis is inflammation of the margin of the eyelids.
- Chronic blepharitis can be classified according to which part of the margin of the eyelid is affected:
- Anterior blepharitis — the bases of the eyelashes (located on anterior margin of the eyelid) are inflamed.
- Posterior blepharitis — the Meibomian glands (located posteriorly on the margin of the eyelid) are inflamed.
- Chronic blepharitis can also be classified by its cause, as:
- Staphylococcal blepharitis.
- Seborrhoeic blepharitis.
- Meibomian blepharitis — often called Meibomian gland dysfunction in the literature.
- These types of blepharitis can occur in any combination.
- In primary care, it is often difficult to distinguish among the different types — see Diagnosis.
[Miller et al, 2005]
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