Eyelid Hygiene: An Often Overlooked Gateway To Healthy Eyes In Preventive Healthcare

In modern day life, eyes are subjected to number of factors that include air pollution, unhygienic rubbing of eyes, eye cosmetics, contact lenses, preservatives in eye drops which all are potential risk factors for myriad of eyelid disorders like blepharitis, Meibomian Gland Disease (MGD), dry eyes, allergic conjunctivitis, infections etc. the course of which may even result in to sight threatening conditions if left untreated. These conditions can be prevented and controlled with proper eye hygiene practices that integrates eyelid cleansing and massage which are well accepted and recommended in management of many of these conditions. Lacrimal functional unit (LFU) that comprises of cornea, conjunctiva, lids, meibomian&lacrimal glands, and a neural network that connects them is cornerstone to a healthy ocular surface and healthy eyes. Dysfunction of any component of LFU leads to these eyelid conditions which form major burden in routine ophthalmic practice. Eyelids, being an integral part of LFU play very important function of not only protecting eyes in keeping out foreign bodies but also regularly spreading tears on the surface to keep it moist. Eyelid hygiene that integrates eyelid cleansing and massage is well accepted and recommended in management of many of these conditions. However, not much attention has been given to incorporate practice of regular eyelid hygiene in day to day life to help keep these conditions at bay. Thus, there needs to be better awareness to inculcate daily eye hygiene habits aided by products designed for eyelid cleansing that help in keeping lids clean for healthy eyes.