Castor Oil
★★★★★
I put a heated gel mask over my eyes when I woke up and before I went to bed. That helped "melt" the plugged up gunk clogging the oil glands on my lash line. Importantly, after warming up the lash line for about 15 minutes, I washed my eyelids with baby shampoo. That helped to further break up and dissolve the gunk build up. Finally, the third part of this process is to take a dot of castor oil (organic, hexane free, cold pressed), and swipe your eyelids with it.
My eyes felt better immediately. It took a week or so to see an uninflamed eye margin. Since my gunk is all cleared out, I only use the castor oil. I swipe my eyelids with it before I go to bed. My eyes are perfect. I've been back to the dry eye "expert" for a complete exam to see if the castor oil might be doing something bad to the insides of my eyes or something. No. They are perfect.
I will never stop putting a drop on my lash line every night. Honestly, when I was suffering with dry eye, I thought I would have it forever. I was depressed. I couldn't wear eye makeup for a year. My eyes hurt like hell just from air! I was constantly putting drops in my eyes. That helps the symptom temporarily. For me, the cause was clogged up oil glands related to my lashes. Why that happened in the first place, I have no idea. But now, I am fine. If anyone can take what I've shared and heal themselves as I have, I'd be real happy about that. Good luck!!!!
(Valencia, Ca)
05/27/2018
Castor Oil
★★★☆☆
Castor Oil
★☆☆☆☆
(Montrose, Co)
02/10/2015
★★★★★
Maryalice, how weird. I live in SW Colorado and am moving to Oregon soon to be near 2 of my kids. I just got Blepharitis the first time last year and today is the third time I've had this annoying condition. I keep it at bay by using a lotion I have with tea tree oil as the main ingredient. I went to Arizona over the weekend and did not bring my lotion. Guess what I woke up to Monday morning?
(New Zealand)
05/28/2016
Can you tell me the name of the lotion you use please or its ingredients?
(Mississauga, Ontario)
08/03/2016
Castor Oil
★★★★★
(Eureka, Ca, 95501)
12/11/2011
★★★★★
I also had terrible eye pain-mucus, redness, unbearable itchiness.... I thought it was pink-eye, except for it lasted 11 days!! So I finally saw an opthomologist who diagnosed me with Blepharitis (super irritated angry eyelids that don't produce enough oil).
The eyedrops he gave me worked alright; but my eyes would still "flare up" and become extremly irritated. My eyes always seemed to have a red tinge to them-which really really annoyed me.
I tried castor oil, and after only a few nights it seemed to provide a lot of relief! I use a cotton swab to dab the oil on my eyelids, and drop a few drops into my actual eye before bed. It does blur your vision a bit, so before bed is the best option.
:D
(Southwest, Missouri)
01/20/2014
(I hope folks are not using drugstore castor oil processed with hexane. Hexane can cause blindness so everyone be sure to use only hexane free castor oil from the health food store or online.)
Castor oil has only very slightly helped my eyes. I've noticed that my symptoms are usually held at bay while I'm wearing foundation and either putting fresh foundation on before bed usually works at keeping it under control. However, this winter it's been worse than ever and so I've been washing with baby shampoo and using psoriasis lotions very lightly around my eyes (burns like the dickens for a few minutes) which helps tremendously but hasn't completely relieved it. I've also noticed when I eat fungus promoting foods like I did last night, it's absolutely horrible by morning (no matter what I put on my eyelids before bed) with much more redness, swelling, itching, burning etc than usual. Those foods would be sugar and grains for starters. I had popcorn and chocolate last night and I'm paying for it this morning!!
(Barrington, Ri)
01/02/2015
How do I know what the castor oil is processed with? It says 100% castor oil on the bottle with no other ingredients. Am I ok? I hope so as I just put some in my eye before I read this. :(
(Florida)
06/24/2015
My bottle of caster oil says it's hexine free. So, you might want to get another bottle that says this.
Coconut Oil
| 5 star (1) | 33% | |
 (2) |
67% |
★★★★★
To my surprise, I found that as long as the coconut oil was on my lid, there was no pain. I never saw any scales form and within 2 days, my eye was not swollen anymore. You have to keep putting the coconut oil on (2-3 times a day), you will notice when it dries because your eye will be itchy and will hurt again. So happy it worked!
(Caerphilly)
08/31/2015
I've been using coconut oil for blephritis for couple of days and my eyes are sore and itchy.
(Stockholm)
11/04/2015
Hello!
I really like this page, I read a lot about different cures for blepharitis. I was also diagnosed with blepharitis about 7 months ago. At the moment I use an eye pad and massage and cleaning procedure two times a day. I am also trying this coconut oil thing. I apply it around my eyes in the morning and in the night. My issue is that when I apply the oil too close to my eyes, (and by too close I mean on my eyelids) then my eyes start to burn. They are so sensitive to everything. Right now, I apply it directly outside my eyelids, not actually on the eyelids. and that works if I do not apply too much of it. But yesterday before I got to bed I thought I should try to apply coconut oil on my eyelids and very close to my eyelashes, so I did. and today I have had a burning feeling in my eyes. How can my eyes react like this?
Ankan
(Tyler, TX)
10/13/2020
Sometimes an allergy pill will do the trick.
Demodex Mites
★★★★★
Here is a good article on the matter:
https://eyesoneyecare.com/resources/the-ultimate-guide-to-demodex-blepharitis/
Solution:
Dessert Essense Tea Tree Oil Fish Wash 1-2x a day on face around eyelashes (keep eyes closed) and other hair places on face like eye brows. Mites will live there too!
For the first few weeks - wipe eyes 3-4 x a day with Wet ones wipes - YOU MUST GET THE ONES WITH Benzalkonium Chloride - dont use long term, but will help kill the mites (the red pack wet ones have as not all wet ones have this in them)
Another wipe to use on the daily and great to travel with is - NOVEHA tea tree oil eyelid and lash wipes https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0912S6DXW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I use these 2-3 x a day and again easy to take to work, travel and use anywhere
Change out pillow cover every 2-3 days
Wash your dog with Mite shampoo killer 1-2x a week
Do a search on the internet on Blepharitis, Demodex mites and you will see some forums that really go into it and more solutions. If you dont kill the mites (or subdue them as we all have the mites) you will keep getting itchy eyes, crust when you wake up and worse, ... styes!!!
Doxycycline
(Durham, County Of)
02/15/2015
2 weeks in to a 3 month course of doxycycline and there's a definite improvement already, my eyes aren't as sticky, crusted, red or watery as they were, I've got another 2 weeks of 100mg a day, then 2 months of 50mg a day, it seems to be working so far.
(Co.durham, England)
04/23/2015
I have completed a 2 month course of doxycycline, 100mg a day for 1 month, then 50 mg a day for 1 month, I put lacrilube ointment in both eyes at night, and the blepharitis has gone, I urge all sufferers to give it a try.
(Miami)
05/16/2015
(Middlesex Uk)
12/20/2015
★★★☆☆
BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS
Many years ago I was diagnosed from Moorfields eye hospital with Blepharitis, and put on 2 X 50mg of doxycycline for 8 weeks. I was feeling better and went to pick up my second months supply only to find the GP wrote me up for a 100mg. strength dose which made me so ill I had to come off this. I had thus wasted taking this for 4 weeks and now off the medication. I have just been left in a more severe condition. No GP can sort this out disregarding my inability to take a 100mg. tablet. So I am from today ordering 3 bottles of Blephasol to cleanse my eyes and then a lubricant gel for the dry eyes to see what works. I also will try the heated mask. My burning of the eyes is severe as is the stickiness so I have to try something that works better than the NO TEARS Baby shampoo which is tedious to use. Consistency is the key to keeping on top of cleansing the eyelids which is what is needed in this eye disorder of Blepharitis.
Epsom Salt, Baby Shampoo Treatment
★★★★★
I tried this method with success. Here's what I did...
I used 2 drops of organic baby shampoo, 1 tablespoon of Epsom salts dissolved in 1/2 cup hot water, or microwave it.
To apply dip 2 cotton round makeup pads into the heated solution, squeeze excess liquid & place on closed eyes. I then placed a heated, in microwave, damp face washer folded over & then a small heated wheat bag to hold it in place, lie flat for 10 mins AM+ PM. The wheat bag held it's heat for 10 mins easily.
By Day 2 I was feeling less desperate & I have continued for a week and I now have almost normal looking eyes, apart from my pesky glaucoma!!! If you don't have a wheat bag, buy an old pair of corduroy trousers from an op shop & cut the legs into pieces, sew & fill with wheat, which can be bought loose very cheaply...hand sew end to finish. Also it doesn't work as well without the baby shampoo, go for a soap & sulphate free brand. Best of luck...🎆
Epsom Salt, Baby Shampoo Treatment
★★★★★
The problem with blepharitis is as soon as the infection occurs, the immediate reaction is to get rid of it quickly even to squeeze the infected gland and/or eyelid to remove the stye. As many of the previous posts already indicated, this only worsens the condition.
For many with blepharitis, as it was with me it meant keeping up with the condition every single day. I found that I had to keep a close eye on my eyelids to watch for any sort of inflammation or swelling that indicated that an oil gland was blocked. If there was any swelling, redness or indication that a meibomian gland had become blocked I would have to intensify the treatment.
Here's the treatment that I have been using and it is now worked for over a year now with no serious reoccurrence of infection:
- microwaveable eye warmer with beads, (never bother with a single eye warmer) usually obtained at a local drugstore for about $10
- Epsom salts - about 2 tablespoons
- Baby shampoo - 5-6 drops (don't get cheap off brands, they sting)
- About 2 cups of water
- Small towel to just wrap around the heating pad
Heat up the water in a small bowl along with the Epsom salts and baby shampoo. Takes about 45 seconds by microwave. Heat up the beaded mask for your eyes takes about 20 seconds in the microwave. Then take the small towel and soak it in the solution and then wrap it around the beaded eye mask. The heat will last a good five minutes or so. Then if you want to go a full 10 minutes you can heated up and repeat the process one more time. It seems that if you're in the middle of dealing with an infection that a full 10 minutes does work better. This process softens the congealed oil's in your oil glands, it allows them to drain which is what you need to have happen.
The eyelid will immediately feel better. If there is a small white spot on the eyelid you will notice that eventually it starts to go down. As you may already know Epsom salts are used to draw out infections, and it feels really good on your eyelids even if you didn't have this condition. But it takes time to reduce the swelling. If you wake up in the morning with a crusty feel in the eyelid that means that the eyelid is draining, and that's a very very good sign. If you catch it early enough it will only take a few days and the infection will go away completely. Here's something else that seems to work well for some reason, if you can soak your eyes in the evening at about six or seven in the evening, and then again just before you go to bed, it seems that it really helps the eyelid to drain if you're dealing with an ongoing blockage.
I would like to add a few things that I feel do not work. Often you will read where just putting on a hot cloth is suggested but it doesn't get hot enough long enough to do any good. It is basically ineffective. Also taking a hot shower doesn't really get enough heat to where it needs to be. Also you will hear comments where you should heat the pad to where you can barely stand it, but you only need to heated to about 40° C. Hotter could be damaging. Some will say that it's not necessary to use any kind of solution, that it's just the heat, but the solution does cause better contact with the heat and the salt can have a therapeutic effect as well as the soap on the eyelid. I've also tried some other oils and other substances on my eyelids which only burn and perhaps could even damage your eyes. Unfortunately in talking with doctors about my eyes, they usually pass it off is no big concern which is a little bit annoying and simply say just soak your eyes. While that is basically true you have to approach it the right way for it to actually work.
Another device that I have used that is very helpful is an electric eye warmer that connects to USB port, especially designed for treating blepharitis not the usual eye warmer that might be commercially available. There's only one on the market that I have found and finally it past all the testing and is now available. I use every night in treating my eyes which is an alternative to the heated solution and eye warmer when not dealing with an infection.
So in conclusion, it takes 2 things, persistence and patience to deal with this condition as I have learned through experience. If you keep up with the condition of your eyelids, then you will not have to deal with embarrassing styes or chalazions when the stye gets to a larger size and takes much longer to heal. Incidentally, using the above method I have been able to heal chalazions in the same way, it just takes much longer. But with patience, you will eventually completely heal the eyelid.
(Bermuda)
12/13/2015
Has anyone else tried this remedy?
I bought manuka and coconut oil yesterday but since this is Editors choice wondering if I should try this first?
My aggravated eye only responded to the Tobradex ointment by becoming more painful, came off that pretty sharp so I have to look for alternatives myself. There seem so many choices it's difficult to know what to do and so fearful of ruining my eye further.
(Warner Robins, Ga)
09/15/2016
Can't thank you enough for posting this. I've been suffering with this for over 20 years, I basically gave up, you wouldn't believe what I've been through because of it but I'm going to try this and pray that it works for me too. I've suffered so much thank you again I'm glad you are no longer suffering with it.
Eucalyptus and Lemongrass
★★★★★
(Tennessee)
04/04/2023
Thank you for the information. I ordered some today and cannot wait to receive it. I've been successful at keeping mine down to a minimum by taking an omega supplement called De 3 manufactured by PRN. It has helped tremendously with calming the burning of my eyelids. The burning was really getting out of control for me. I've had blepharitis for years. I'm hoping the lotion you used will help with the crusting on my eyelids as well as the watering of my eyes. Thank you for your suggestion!
Hand Wipes
★★☆☆☆
HOWEVER, I have since learned that the active ingredient in the wipes that kills the Blepharitis, Benzalkonium Chloride, is believed to be damaging to the eyes in 7 different ways. Consumers who are using eye drops, OTC and RX, and or wet o n e's on a daily basis for long periods are often unaware of the ocular surface risks.
The studies are here:
https://www.dryeyeshop.com/pages/the-bak-list-of-shame
I am also on the Fuch's Corneal Dystrophy blog and learned from posts there that BAK is harmful for those with Corneal Dystrophy.
More personal research needs to be done to determine how injurious BAK can be.
(Kentucky)
06/07/2022
Wet Wipes with Benzalkonium Chloride has been working for my Aunt with Blepharitis. She swears by them. However, I'm allergic to them.
(UK)
01/30/2024
Hi mate, the main ingredient in wet ones that worked so well for blepharitis is actually Benzethonium chloride. They changed it in 2019 to benzalkonium after this. I'm surprised to hear that the benzalkonium chloride has worked for you. Does it still work?
Hand Wipes
★★★★★
Hand Wipes
★★★★★
I've had blepharitis for 20 years. I was told repeatedly that I will have it my whole life and that it can't be cured.
But there is a cure. The active ingredient in Wet Ones wipes (red label - NOT the blue label/sensitive version) is Benzethonium Chloride 0.3%. It kills staph.
Don't use the blue label/sensitive version - it has no active ingredient. Don't use generic/store brand versions of Wet Ones - they don't have enough Benzethonium Chloride.
Because this is the first mention of this easy cure, you might be tempted to dismiss it. I encourage you to check this thread of people who have used this cure, including lots of feedback from the woman who originally discovered it. https://patient.info/forums/discuss/one-week-using-wet-ones-with-benzethonium-chloride-62456
Cut wipes into small pieces and put them in a glass bowl with a lid. Wipe the lash line 3 to 4 times per day. Don't rinse, let them dry. My eyes feel no irritation at all. Wipe lashes less frequently as the blepharitis goes away. It will eventually be gone or easily managed.
After 20 years, I am shocked and so happy that this can be fixed.
(Usa)
07/13/2020
(New York)
07/13/2020
Use unscented wipes from Costco or Amazon basics. You can use as is BUT make sure you use separate wipes for each eye when you feel a tingle. You can a splash of 70 30 alcohol o the package. Blepharitis is often caused by demodex mites and when they are exposed to alcohol die.
You will feel itchy most often at same time at night. Close eyes and wipe. Apply diluted tea tree oil 30 70 along eyelash base. Just a little is effective. Test dilution as tea tree oil is strong. Tea tree, lavender are good for mites. Peppermint is too strong!
Hand Wipes
★★★★★
Your stories and suggestions have saved my sanity. Please know you have made a huge difference in my life through the sharing of your hard-earned experiences.
Thank you!
Hand Wipes
★★★★★
I no longer have Blepharitis. There is a cure.
Benzethonium Chloride is the medicine in the products that get rid of Blepharitis. It is found in the antibacterial hand wipes known as WET ONES. It comes in a red box. Walmart or drug stores or grocery stores here carry it. I checked on the internet to find what products Benzethonium Chloride was in. You may have to order from a drug store on line if you can't get it there.
Let me explain how I got rid of it. I tore each hand wipe into 8 pieces and rubbed each eyelash are twice-4 times a day to start. After a week or two I went down to 3 times a day. After a month I went down to 2 times a day for several months. This is an infection in the roots of the eyelashes. Putting medicine in the eye doesn't do much. I tried 3 times with antibiotics. Did nothing.
When a friend said she got rid of it I jumped on it right away. She had it going up her eyelids.
Two people have gotten rid of this horrible itching. It is not a hit and miss thing. I kept at it for 3-4 months and it is gone.
The 3 Dr.'s who looked into my eyes tried to find it and couldn't. One was the Dr. who gave me the prescriptions for antibiotics and diagnosed the Blepharitis. This is not just a temporary relief thing I am writing blogging about. I learned how to blog to try to help others learn about the way to get rid of this infection in the eye lashes. The Dr.'s didn't seem to be interested in a cure. I did blog on one Dr.'s comment and he was interested and wanted to know if I washed my eyes off after using the wipes. I told him no I did not.
There is no need to suffer with this when there is a cure. Please be diligent and work at it for the 3-4 months. You do start to feel better. When I was done it itched once or twice and I used the wipes and it was gone.
Relief is not far way, Lynda
(Allentown, PA)
09/29/2014
Lynda,
I tried the Wet Ones trick and yes it worked for a while to get my puffiness down, but it actually started to make my eyes worse after a while. The ONLY thing that has provided me some sort of relief is Blephamide Ointment that you put in your eyes.
It would be best that you also include that the Wet Ones tip may only work for a while for some.
(Usa)
10/27/2014
Hey I have a bump on my eye filled with puss I believe and its on my eyelid and a doctor prescribed me with a medicine for blepharitis so I guess its blepharitis do you think it will work for me? Ifs o can you please like tell me how you applied it on? and how it worked for you? Did you put it in your eye or on the outside skin prt for it to go away!! ??? Help me. Iv'e been depressed so much and I cry myself to sleep wondering if it will ever go away I need a true miracle . LET ME KNOW!!!
(Somewhere, Europe)
10/28/2014
Day, two helpful Blepharitis remedies are: castor oil and honey. Read up on it right here on EC.
(Victoria, Australia)
10/28/2014
Hi Day (Usa)
I had the same problem 2 months ago and used diluted Apple Cider Vinegar (10 parts water-1 part ACV. I placed 2 drops in each eye, one in the morning and one at night, the next day it was gone.
I have recently had 2 bouts of mild conjunctivitis and sprayed Colloidal Silver on to them both times. They were also gone the next day. Either one will fix your problem. Good luck with it.
Craig
(Agoura Hills, Ca)
01/28/2015
Fabulous & word of caution. This is absolutely fabulous information & I will be retaining this very detailed process in a folder for future reference. One thing to bear in mind is that there is a strong possibility that our bodies will develop a resistance to this treatment. If you do find that this happens, the Manuka Honey &/or tea tree solution are extremely effective as well.
(Anaheim, Ca)
06/10/2015
★★★★★
I have had blepharitis since 2009. My tear ducts plugged with yellow waxy substance and were inflamed, red, painful, and runny. I daily removed strings of pussy mucous from my eyes. I just wanted to close my eyes and not open them again. I read Posted by Ophelia (Dana Point, CA) on 08/07/2014 about Wet Ones wipes and followed her advice. Today after 4 months of using them I went to the ophthalmologist. Seven or eight times he used words like pristeen and stellar when describing the condition of my eyelids now. Midway I did go through a crisis that it wasn't working. But I stuck to Ophelia's recommendation to treat my condition for a full 4 months with these wipes and diluted baby shampoo washes. I did find that I needed to moisturize my eyelids and surrounding areas once a day. But from what was a great suffering to being apparently cured, I am so grateful for the advice to use them. My doctor told me to just go to cleansing my eyes with the shampoo once a day. He didn't see any need to do any more. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I am 73 years old, what a relief! $6 cure! Judy
(Caerphilly)
08/17/2015
(Wa)
05/21/2016
Dear Judy,
I read your comments regarding using wet ones for your eyes. I was wondering if you used heat compresses every day or at all? I am using the wet ones too and have clogged glands but I worry the heat compresses could encourage bacterial growth. Since you were successful could you tell me what you did? Thank you so much, Dawn
(Bc)
06/11/2016
(Ny)
06/12/2016
When my daughter was younger, she had severe case of blepharis that she developed chalazions. My doctor told me to wash with diluted baby shampoo and to use warm compresses. My husband preferred to use occusoft cleaning pads or liquid cleanser because he was afraid of the soap stinging her eyes. I would definitely avoid using Wet Ones because it's not made for the eye area.
(Kimbal,l Mi)
07/07/2016
★★★★★
I would like to recommend the post by ophelia (Dana Point CA) on 08/07/2014 using antibacterial hand wipes on eye lids.
My eyes were itching really bad but NOT NOW, I did not cut the towelette into pieces liked she did, I folded the towelette and put it into a sandwich bag to reuse it and replaced it every few days I am also taking n-acetyl-L-cysteine 600 mg one daily I don't use the eye drops or Doctors or the baby shampoo or anything else anymore thanks for sharing this web site.
(Calgary, Canada)
09/07/2016
It has been a dark and rainy summer. Hardly any sun. Therefore lack of Vitamin D. Blephartis is horrible, painful and trying every treatment. I wash my face and clean my eyes, moisturize eyes with antibiotic ointment called erythromycin because the Steroid eye ointment Tobradex burned by eyelid. I increased my Vitamin D to 4000iu. a day and added 2000 iu of Vitamin C while treating the condition. Much better but it took a long time because of the steroid ointment, I had to start from square 1.
(Ca)
09/20/2016
(California)
11/16/2016
★★★★★
I would also like to recommend the post from Ophelia. I am so grateful to have found it, especially because she explains that there may be exacerbations along the way and to just continue treatment anyways. This really helped because exacerbation did occur. I went to Oregon in June and developed this weird red puffy scaly thing on both upper eyelids. I have never had any issues with my eyes before so I figured it was something I was allergic to in that location. Over the following several weeks it got worse. I looked like a drug addict when I woke up, triangular red marks under my eyes, puffiness and inflammation on upper eyelids. Upon optometrists recommendations I tried eyedrops for allergies as well as natural tears. No difference at all after 2 weeks. I tried Manuka honey, no difference. All this time, I washed my face with water and wore no make-up. I went to a dermatologist and she recommended steroid treatment and to wash with baby shampoo. She literally told me I could never even touch my eyes again without an inflammatory reaction developing afterwards. I decided to forgo the steroid and try the wet ones instead. I followed the regimen Ophelia laid out. I saw improvement after a couple days. After a few weeks, it seemed to get worse. I stuck with regimen though and within a couple days it subsided. It took about 4 weeks for blepharitis to subside completely. I still continued using wet ones for another month though just to be sure. I haven't used them now for 2 weeks and haven't had recurrence. My eyes are completely normal. I was so discouraged prior to this treatment. I couldn't imagine dealing with this for the rest of my life, which it was looking as if that would be the case. I'm incredibly grateful for this post because it truly is a cure!
(Md)
12/10/2016
I found this through lots of research. I believe demodex is the cause of my eye issues and my paplopustular rosacea, which is my major issue/concern. Doctors aren't well versed in demodex mites or they just don't believe it's a real issue, they don't know how to find them. I've been using tea tree oil in baby shampoo and already notice a difference. I should have used tto when I thought it was demodex months ago. Oh well, we live and we learn-to trust ourselves. Mine started as scalp sores and moved down my face. Good luck!!!
(Westchester Ny)
06/10/2017
Ophelia, you don't wash off? I couldn't use Wet Ones irritated my eyes. So bought a box of Benzalkonium Chloride towelettes 0.13%. They are good but use no tears baby shampoo after 10 minutes. I didn't know it could be left on. I do follow everything else. Bead compress in AM gentle dry eye wash then I use BC, 10 minutes later wash off. One eye is bad the other is very mild. Got this after lid surgery. Idiot eye specialist told me it was my imagination. So one eye went untreated until I found another specialist who would take a look. 2 minutes after looking at my eyes diagnosed it.
