Blepharitis refers to a common chronic inflammatory condition that affects the eyelid margin.
It may be infectious or non-infectious, and anatomically is divided into anterior and posterior blepharitis. Staphylococcal infectious blepharitis is due to bacterial colonization of the anterior lid margin, most often by Staphylococcus aureus. Clinical symptoms include burning, itching, gritty or foreign body sensation, crusting and redness or irritation of the lid margins. Lid hygiene with warm compresses and baby shampoo scrubs provide symptomatic relief but when bacterial overgrowth is suspected topical antibiotic ointments are recommended.