Your
eyelids are your eyes' protective shield against wind, dust, and potentially
dangerous objects. When your eyelids are affected by disease, your entire eye
can become susceptible to injury. Here are eyelid issues to discuss with your
ophthalmologist to preserve your overall eye health.
Perioral
dermatitis is a skin condition that causes the skin around the nose, chin,
lips, and sometimes underneath the eye or on the eyelid to become red, scaly,
and itchy. This condition is difficult to treat because doctors do not know the
cause of the rash. The rash can be viral, bacterial, or even be stress- or
hormone-related, and mostly affects women.
Speak
to your ophthalmologist if
you have perioral dermatitis. Discuss what medications you can use around your
eyes. While this skin rash condition is not life-threatening and won't harm
your vision, using topical steroids or other medications for this condition
around your eyes can be dangerous to your vision health.
A
skin tag is an excess bit of skin that hangs off the body. These tags are
typically harmless but can be irritating. Skin tags are on areas of the body
that rub against other body parts, such as the armpit, neck, or even the eyelid
area.
Your
ophthalmologist should examine a skin tag that obscures your vision or causes
eyelid changes. Many skin tags are cut or frozen off, although they can recur,
especially if you are prone to this skin condition due to weight issues or
diabetes.
With
people over age 50, the eyelid can start to sag or droop as it develops a
second fold of skin. This can cause skin infections and vision obscurity. An
ophthalmologist will remove the excess skin to reveal younger-looking eyes and
to restore better vision.
Another
age-related eyelid condition is entropion. The eyelid can begin to turn
inwards, allowing the eyelashes to touch the eyeball and cause irritation.
Since the cornea becomes scratched and irritated and the eyelid fails to
perform its primary function when the lid turns toward the eye, the condition
is usually treatable with surgery.
Ocular
herpes is linked to the same virus that causes cold sores around the mouth.
Ocular herpes is relatively common and often affects the entire eye, including
the eyelid.
Ocular
herpes can cause blindness if not treated or if the condition starts to affect
the deeper areas of the cornea. Ocular herpes is a leading cause of corneal
blindness in the United States. Luckily, the condition is treatable with
medication and regular monitoring from your ophthalmologist.
If
you have recurring eye infections or your eyes constantly water, itch, or
appear red much of the time and you have cold sores or someone in your
immediate family does — which increases your risk of exposure to the virus —
ask your ophthalmologist to take a culture swab of your eye. A culture test
will determine if you have ocular herpes so you can treat the condition.
If
you have sudden loss of vision, your eyelids are puffy and sore, or if your
general doctor has expressed concerns about your eye health, make an
appointment with an ophthalmologist immediately. A full vision exam will
determine what eyelid and other eye conditions you have. Your ophthalmologist
will often recommend treatment or surgery to restore eye health.
Continue
regular eye appointments as recommended by your eye doctor. Visit Calvert
Ophthalmology Center for all of your vision needs. Our experienced staff treats
a variety of common and complex eye conditions, so call us today. We look
forward to hearing from you and answering your questions.
