There's no direct link between coffee and blepharitis, although hot drinks, including coffee, can trigger flare-ups of rosacea, a skin condition that raises the risk of blepharitis.
These include processed or fried foods, sugar, white flour and fizzy drinks tends to aggravate the condition. I have also found that a varied diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables and high intake of natural Omega-3 containing foods helps reduce flare-ups.
Blepharitis tends to be worse in cold windy weather, air-conditioned environments, prolonged computer usage, sleep deprivation, contact lens wear, and with general dehydration. It also tends to be worse in the presence of active skin disease e.g. acne rosacea, seborrhoeic dermatitis.
For example, coffee intake have been thought to be a risk factor for dry eye syndrome due to the diuretic effect of caffeine [8], but recent studies showed that caffeine is not associated with diuretic problems [9] and rather may reduce dry eye syndrome by increasing tear secretion in a Japanese experimental study [10] ...
Short Term Effects of Caffeine on the Eyes
Along with eye discomfort, the risk of inflammation and decreased attention is higher, which may result in jitters. Additionally, overconsumption of caffeine can lead to chronic dry eye, increasing the risk of eye infections and corneal abrasions.
Caffeine and carbonated drinks
Even though coffee and tea are a need for many of us, caffeine is directly associated with causing puffy eyes.
Truly bad foods include French fries, most boxed cereals, candy, chips, most fast foods & fried snack foods. Sugar is your #1 enemy. Aspartame (nutri-sweet) & MSG stimulate pain receptors & cause inflammation. No sodas are good for you.
You can't cure blepharitis. However, it can be treated and controlled through proper eyelid hygiene. Left untreated, blepharitis may lead to other more serious eye conditions, including corneal problems, which may be significant.
Other dermatological manifestations of vitamin A deficiency include blepharitis [16], noted in our first patient, and cheilitis.
Blepharitis rarely disappears completely. Even with successful treatment, the condition frequently is chronic and requires daily attention with eyelid scrubs. If you don't respond to treatment, or if you've also lost eyelashes or only one eye is affected, the condition could be caused by a localized eyelid cancer.
Blepharitis can be part of the symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis or a highly reactive form of acne known as rosacea. A combination of blepharitis and dry mouth may indicate an autoimmune condition known as Sjogren's (SHOW-grins) syndrome.
Beyond causing patient discomfort, the presence of blepharitis can affect the outcomes of cataract and refractive surgery. And, as the prevalence of blepharitis increases with age, clinicians can expect to see a growing number of cases in the coming years.
We sometimes recommend special nutritional supplements containing certain essential fatty acids to decrease dry eye symptoms. Drinking more water may also relieve symptoms.
Some doctors also recommend Vaseline for specific dry eye conditions. It may help with blepharitis, which causes dry and irritated eyelids, as well as dysfunction in the meibomian glands that lubricate the eyes. Petroleum jelly from Vaseline can also help keep wounds moist. This may help prevent scarring.
What causes blepharitis? Most of the time, blepharitis happens because you have too much bacteria on your eyelids at the base of your eyelashes. Having bacteria on your skin is normal, but too much bacteria can cause problems. You can also get blepharitis if the oil glands in your eyelids get clogged or irritated.
In conclusion, blepharitis is not an autoimmune disease.
It is associated with autoimmune diseases, and some autoimmune diseases do affect the eyes, mimicking the symptoms of blepharitis, but it is not itself autoimmune in nature.
Although the etiology of blepharitis is multitudinal, individuals who are predisposed can be triggered by certain factors such as stress. Stress behaviors are important to recognize; one may have difficulty concentrating, revert to bad habits, and fall into unhealthy eating habits.
There are many possible causes of blepharitis. Effective treatment depends on treating the underlying cause. If the cause is due to an allergy, by eliminating exposure to the allergen and using antihistamine eye drops the symptoms may resolve.
The recommended regime is four times a day for two weeks, then twice a day for a month, and twice a week after that. If you are using a simple hot compress with a face flannel then warm saltwater soaks are preferred as this is more isotonic and thus more comfortable and less likely to wrinkle the eyelid skin.
LipiFlow is the “gold standard” for treating meibomian gland dysfunction, blepharitis, ocular rosacea and dry eye. This is because LipiFlow is the most effective way to unclog and evacuate your meibomian glands.
Strawberries, cranberries, blackberries and blueberries are great superfoods for healthy functioning eyes. Berries are packed with nutritious vitamins and minerals and are of particular benefit in maintaining eye health.