Chapter 4 — The Symptoms May Start Very Subtly
Demodex-related eyelid inflammation does not necessarily begin with dramatic swelling.
Some people may initially notice relatively mild symptoms such as:
- Itchy eyelids
- Burning or irritation
- A gritty or foreign-body sensation
- Watery eyes
- Dry eyes
- Crusting around the eyelashes
- Redness along the eyelid margin
Blurred vision or eyelash loss can also occur in some
cases.
These symptoms are not specific to Demodex, however.
Dry eye disease, allergies, bacterial blepharitis, skin conditions, contact-lens problems and other eye disorders can produce similar complaints. That’s why trying to diagnose the cause simply by looking at an online photograph can be misleading.
The key is persistent or recurrent symptoms, rather than the occasional itchy eye.
