Blepharitis

* My advice regarding blepharitis and itchy skin around the eyelashes is to consider your emotional state. Is there anything you are angry about? Paying attention to the messages from your anger can help you deal with issues that sometimes the body expresses through physical symptoms. My blepharitis, which I suffered with for years, disappeared after dealing with my low-level anger in counselling. - Kari Shah

* I would recommend bicarbonate of soda to help treat blepharitis. Half a teaspoon in half a glass of water smeared on the eyelids with a Q-Tip (cottonbud) twice daily really helps; continue until its no longer necessary. I cured mine completely with this method. - Collette Hurley

* I suffered discomfort in my left eyelid for about three years and it was diagnosed as blepharitis. It was triggered after I recovered from a nasty cold/flu. I tried many prescribed medications for my persistent symptoms, and tests did not show the presence of any virus. Only regular warm teabag compresses and cleaning of the eye with warm water (suggested by doctors) helped after many years. I do have relapses sometimes, however. - Wojciech Langer

* Blepharitis could be connected to mercury toxicity, so I would suggest hair analysis, together with vitamin C and MSM [methylsulphonylmethane] eyedrops. - Charlotte Bridge

* In my opinion, blepharitis is associated with extensive computer use. If I have a holiday break, the condition seems to recede, but then increases in severity on restarting work. It also appears to be worse in winter than in summer. Some soaps have an irritant effect and I avoid highly coloured ones. Coal Tar soap gives some relief. Try changing your computer screen, which may give some relief. - Graham Ewing