Blepharitis is characterized by which description?

• A. Painless tearing with eyelid edema.
• B. Red, inflamed, and itchy eyelids with crusting around the eyelashes.
• C. Severe eye pain with vision loss.
• D. No eyelid involvement.

Answer: (B)

Blepharitis is an inflammatory condition of the eyelid margins, often chronic, with involvement of the lash follicles and glands. The hallmark description is red, inflamed, and itchy eyelids with crusting or crusty debris around the eyelashes. This crusting around the lash line reflects lid-margin inflammation and is the distinguishing feature of blepharitis. Patients may also notice a gritty sensation or lashes that stick together, especially in the morning.

Other descriptions don’t fit because they point to different eye problems. Painless tearing with eyelid edema can occur with other eyelid or ocular surface issues, but it doesn’t emphasize the lid-margin crusting typical of blepharitis. Severe eye pain with vision loss suggests acute intraocular or corneal involvement, not a chronic lid-margin dermatitis. No eyelid involvement completely misses the defining feature of blepharitis.