Demodectic eye

Demodectic eyes or otherwise - ophthalmodemodecosis - refers to chronic diseases that are caused by tiroglyphoid mites.

In the case of demodicosis of the eye, a parasite in the human body is conditionally caused by a pathogenic tick of the genus Demodex from the family Demodecidae.

Causes of the demodectic eye

The causes of demodicosis of the eyes are the activation of the Demodex folliculorum mites, which live in the hair bulbs of the mites, as well as the Demodex brevis mites, which lead a symbiotic lifestyle, settling in the sebaceous glands of the century, in the glands of the cartilage of the eyelid (meibomies glands), and also located near the hair follicles sebaceous glands of Zeiss. All these glands develop secret, consisting of proteins and fatty acids. In this environment demodekozny mite feels very comfortable: the temperature for it is the most suitable (at +14-15 ° C it becomes cumbersome, and at + 52 ° C it immediately dies), the moisture is sufficient and eaten by what - fat-containing substances and particles of the cell cytoplasm .

Virtually the entire biological cycle of this obligate human parasite passes in the cavity of the hair bulb, and with stable conditions normal for its existence, demodicosis of the eyes does not develop. But when these conditions change and something does not suit the ticks, the so-called medically asymptomatic carrier grows into a disease with characteristic clinical signs.

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Risk factors

Experts attribute the factors that provoke demodicosis of the eye:

• increase in air temperature and heating to sunlight during sunbathing in the spring-summer period;
• too high temperature in residential or industrial premises;
• abuse of hot water procedures;
• general reduction of body defenses;
• changes in the body with endocrine, hormonal, vascular, gastrointestinal diseases, with pathological processes in the liver, etc .;
• increasing the level of acidity of the skin;
• presence of violations of refraction of the eyes (myopia or hyperopia), not corrected by optics.

It is also established that the emergence of demodicosis of the eye contributes to the presence of local foci of infection, which have a toxic-allergic effect on the entire body.

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Symptoms of the demodectic eye

The key symptoms of demodicosis of the eye - demodekoznyh blepharitis and demodekoznyh blepharo-conjunctivitis are usually manifested in the form:

• increased eye fatigue and a feeling of heaviness of the eyelids;
• burning and itching edge of the eyelids near the eyelashes;
• resi in the eyes, similar to the one that occurs when small eyes come in the eyes;
• thick mucous adhesive to the touch of discharge from the cavities of the conjunctiva, accumulating in the outer and inner corners of the eyes;
• the formation of keratin scales and crusts between the eyelashes and on their roots, causing the eyelashes to stick together;

• expansion of eyelid capillaries and redness of the conjunctiva;
• the appearance of small pustules on the eyelids between the eyelashes;
• dry eye syndrome and decreased corneal sensitivity (due to a decrease in the thickness of the tear film on the surface of the cornea in the lesion of the meibomian glands).

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Diagnostics of the demodectic eye

Diagnosis of eye demodicosis is performed by an ophthalmologist based on patient complaints, eye examination and laboratory detection of Demodex folliculorum and Demodex brevis on eyelashes.

For this, four eyelashes are removed from each eyelid, then they are placed between two slides in a special solution and studied under a microscope.

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Treatment of the demodectic eye

According to experts, the treatment of eye demodicosis takes into account the life cycle of demodex mites and lasts for 1.5 months.

How to treat demodectic eye? First, it is recommended to wash the face with tar soap (birch tar is an antiseptic and insecticide) and regularly do eyelid massage, which helps to remove the contents accumulating in the glands. Secondly, to reduce the mobility of parasites twice a day, the eyelid edges are treated with alcohol, alcohol tincture of calendula officinalis or eucalyptus.

Drops with demodic eyes are also used - 3% eye drops Carbohol. But they are not buried in the eyes, and 2-3 times a week, the edges of the eyelids are lubricated: this causes the ciliary part of the ocular circular muscle to shrink and the contents of the glands come out of the glands together with the mites. With the same purpose - for the treatment of the edge of the eyelids - 0.25% drops for the eyes of Physostigmine or 0.02% of the drop of Phosphacol.

Also in the treatment of demodic eye is used a bacterial gel Demolon, which contains metronidozole, silver citrate, sulfur and extracts of burdock and mulberry. The gel is applied to the edges of the eyelids at the base of the eyelashes (carefully, so as not to hit the eyes); The procedure is carried out twice a day - in the morning and at night. Duration of treatment - 1,5 months.

There is a gel for eyelids Stopdemodex (consisting of metronidazole, chamomile extract and hyaluronic acid), which after preliminary treatment of the skin and the edges of the eyelids with an alcohol tincture of calendula is applied to the eyelids - closer to the roots of the eyelashes - for half an hour; then the remnants of the remedy are removed with a damp cloth. It is necessary to apply the drug for 1.5 months - every morning and evening.

Remedy for demodectic eye Blepharogel 2 contains hyaluronic acid, aloe vera extract, sulfur and glycerin. In the area of eyelash growth, it is convenient to apply with a cotton swab, and then apply a small drug on the fingertips and a couple of minutes to massage the eyelids. The procedure is conducted daily (morning and evening).

You may need antibacterial drops in demodic eyes - with the development of inflammation caused by infection. Ophthalmologists are most often prescribed to instill Levomycetin, Levofloxacin, Ciprofloxacin, Teobrazon (Tobrex) or Dexa-gentamycin.

Treatment of eye demodectic eye with alternative means

The proposed treatment of eye demodicosis with alternative means, first of all, uses medicinal plants: chamomile flowers, marigold, linden, tansy, as well as oak bark and aloe juice.

With warm infusions (a tablespoon of dry flowers of chamomile, calendula, tansy or linden or crushed oak bark on a glass of boiling water), they wash their eyes and apply compresses to the affected eyelids.

A juice of aloe (pharmacy or squeezed out of a fresh leaf of the century) is mixed with an equal amount of boiled water and daily make lotions on the eyes, which hold at least a quarter of an hour.

Prevention

Demodicosis of the eye is contagious, therefore observance of personal hygiene is the # 1 point in the prevention of eye demodectomy.

This means that wipe the face during the treatment of this disease is better not a towel, but disposable paper napkins. The pillow case on the pillow must be changed daily or removed and calcined with a hot iron. All personal items to be sanitized with alcohol, ether, alcohol solution of salicylic acid or boiling water. You also need to get rid of mascara, eyelids and skin care products in the eye area that you used before the diagnosed demodectic eye.

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Forecast

With respect to the prognosis of this disease, physicians are not particularly optimistic, since his remission lasts a maximum of 12 months, and in every tenth case relapses occur. In addition, the population of ticks that cause demodicosis of the eye, firmly established in the body of people and lives more than half of adults, but manifests itself far from everyone.