Blepharitis is a difficult disease to treat and a complete cure is not easily achieved. Effective treatment requires a long-term commitment from both patient and physician. Complications concerning blepharitis Complications may occur in patients with anterior or posterior blepharitis. A stye develops rapidly, producing an elevated, painful, red, swollen area on the eyelid. Styes rarely occur in seborrheic dermatitis, but may occur in up to one-third of patients with posterior blepharitis.
Treatment consists of frequent warm compresses and, in select cases, antibiotics.
A chalazion is a firm nodule that may form following either anterior or posterior blepharitis. Secretions from meibomian glands normally present in the posterior layer of the eyelids may leak into the surrounding tissues, causing inflammation. Chalasia may occur suddenly or may appear gradually over time. They may be painful, red, and swollen, or may simply produce a firm mass. Conservative treatment with frequent warm compresses is often successful, but steroid injections into the chalazion or surgical removal are sometimes necessary.