Preparing for an appointment

You're likely to start by seeing your family doctor. If your doctor suspects you may have an eyelid problem, such as blepharitis, you might be referred to an eye specialist (optometrist or ophthalmologist).

Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment.

What you can do

Make a list of the following:

• Your symptoms, including any that may seem unrelated to blepharitis, and when they began
• All medications, vitamins or other supplements you take, including doses
• Questions to ask your doctor

For blepharitis, questions to ask your doctor include:

• What is likely causing my symptoms?
• What are other possible causes for these symptoms?
• What medical conditions can cause this problem?
• What tests will I need?
• Should I see a specialist?
• Are there brochures or other printed material I can have? What websites do you recommend?
• Can I continue to wear contact lenses?
• Do I need to take special care cleaning my contact lenses and my carrying case?
• Can I continue to wear eye makeup?
• Will I need a follow-up visit? If so, when?

Don't hesitate to ask other questions.

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor is likely to ask you questions, such as:

• Do your symptoms come and go, or do you always have them?
• Are your symptoms worse in the morning or later in the day?
• Have you been wearing contact lenses?
• Have you changed cosmetic brands recently?
• Have you changed soap or shampoo brands recently?
• Does anything seem to improve your symptoms?
• What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
• Has anyone close to you had a recent eye infection?
• Have you ever had any eye diseases, eye surgeries or eye injuries?
• Do you have other diseases or conditions?

What you can do in the meantime

While waiting for your appointment, you might find relief from eye irritation by gently washing your eyelids a few times each day. To wash your eyelids:

• Apply a warm washcloth to your closed eyelids for up to five minutes.
• Gently rub your closed eyelids with a diluted solution of baby shampoo. Use a clean washcloth or clean fingers. You might need to hold the lid away from your eye to rub along the lash margin. Removing the scales might require several minutes of gentle rubbing.
• Rinse your eyes thoroughly with warm water.

Avoid anything that irritates your eyes, such as eye makeup and contact lenses.