New Hygiene Treatment For Dry Eye And Eyelid Bacteria

(NAPSA)—MANY adults suffer from often-painful eye conditions like dry eye and blepharitis.

But surprisingly, these conditions also afflict many children, says Steven J. Lichtenstein, M.D., Associate Professor of Clinical Surgery and Pediatrics at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, and Medical Director of Pediatric Ophthalmology at Children’s Hospital of Illinois.

“I see many children in my private practice at the Illinois Eye Center,” says Dr. Lichtenstein, an internationally recognized expert on pediatric ophthalmology. “Some of them have blepharitis, where bacteria on the eyelids contribute to inflammation, pain, and a crusty buildup of debris on the eyelids.”

Others have dry eye, where small glands near the eyelid margins, called meibomian glands, get blocked. “These glands produce a crucial layer of the tear film that helps keep the eyes lubricated with tears, so the blockage can cause dry eye or inflammation,” Dr. Lichtenstein explains.

In fact, children can be especially at risk for these conditions, ophthalmologists say. “The reason is that these problems are caused or exacerbated by bacteria and tiny parasitic mites that live on the eyelids,” says Dr. Lichtenstein. “Children may add to the microbial populations by rubbing their eyes or failing to wash their faces frequently.”

In the past, doctors treated young patients with warm compresses, antibiotics or steroids. But none of these is ideal. “The warm compresses typically bring only temporary relief, while steroids and antibiotics have side effects that are often more worrisome in children than in adults,” says Dr. Lichtenstein.

But recently, Dr. Lichtenstein and others have turned to a more effective and safer approach—an eyelid hygiene product Neutrox called Avenova® from Novabay with Pharmaceuticals. “Avenova kills and removes the bacteria and mites, directly fighting the cause of blepharitis, meibomian gland blockage and other problems,” says

Dr. Lichtenstein. Dr. Lichtenstein reports that Avenova makes the inflammation, pain and other problems go away—and that the children say that Ave nova feels refreshing, brings quick relief and is easy to use. These attributes also increase compliance, which is a cornerstone of any successful treatment.