Blepharitis causes inflamed, often itchy or crusty eyelids. Regular eyelid cleaning is the first practical step for many people. Pain inside the eye, a very red eye or a change in vision is a different situation and needs urgent assessment, not simply more lid wipes or an online prescription. [1,2]
If your eyelashes stick together in the morning or your eyes feel gritty during a working day, it is tempting to assume an infection needs antibiotic drops. Blepharitis is often a longer-running eyelid problem. Knowing the difference between uncomfortable lids and a more serious eye symptom helps you choose the right care.
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What does blepharitis feel like?
NHS guidance lists sore eyelids, itching, a gritty sensation, flakes or crusts at the roots of the eyelashes and lids sticking together on waking. Symptoms can come and go. Causes include bacteria normally present on the skin, seborrhoeic dermatitis and problems with oil production from glands inside the eyelids. [1]
Those symptoms are not enough to diagnose every irritated eye. Tell the clinician whether the discomfort is on the lid or inside the eye, whether your sight has changed and whether you wear contact lenses. The answer can change the urgency and the type of examination needed. [1,2]
When not to wait for a routine appointment
Seek an urgent GP or optician assessment, or use NHS 111, for eye pain, vision changes or a very red eye. These are not symptoms to manage as ordinary blepharitis without assessment. [1]
NHS eye-pain guidance advises emergency care for situations including sudden eye symptoms, loss of vision, an eye injury, or contact-lens use with eye pain and vision loss. A red eye with severe headache and feeling sick also needs emergency assessment. If these apply, go to A&E or call 999 as appropriate rather than waiting for a message reply. [2]
An online GP service should not become a detour when an urgent eye examination is needed.
How to clean your eyelids
For uncomplicated blepharitis, NHS guidance recommends cleaning the eyelids twice a day and continuing even when symptoms settle. The routine is straightforward: [1]
Place a clean flannel or cotton wool soaked in warm water over closed eyelids for five to ten minutes.
Gently massage the lids for about thirty seconds.
Gently clean along the eyelid edges with cotton wool or a cotton bud to remove flakes or crusts.
Use gentle pressure, not scrubbing. A pharmacist can advise on eyelid wipes or pads and suitable eye drops. Do not wear contact lenses or eye make-up while you have symptoms. [1]
A consistent routine is more useful than repeatedly trying a different product without knowing what it is meant to do. If cleaning is not helping or symptoms worsen, book a review.
Do I need antibiotics?
Not automatically. NHS guidance says a GP may suggest an antibiotic cream or ointment when regular eyelid cleaning has not cleared the problem. Other treatment or an eye-specialist referral may be appropriate if symptoms are severe or there are associated problems. [1]
That is a clinical decision, not a reason to use leftover drops. The right plan depends on whether this is blepharitis, another lid condition or an eye problem that needs examination. If you are given medicine, ask how long to use it, what improvement to expect and what should trigger reassessment.
Can an online GP help?
A consultation can review the symptom pattern, previous treatments and warning signs, then help decide whether remote care is appropriate. It cannot provide the same examination as an optician or eye clinic. If there is eye pain, a contact-lens concern, marked redness or altered sight, the examination route takes priority. [1,2]
For non-urgent recurring symptoms, ask The Online GP about a review . Have your previous drops or ointments available and explain what changed rather than simply requesting the same prescription again.
Your appointment checklist
Which eye or eyelid is affected, and when it started.
Whether symptoms are intermittent or steadily worsening.
Whether there is pain inside the eye, light sensitivity or any change in vision.
Contact-lens use and any recent eye treatment or injury.
Products and medicines tried, and whether lid cleaning was regular.
Relevant skin conditions, including flaky skin around the scalp or face.
A useful plan should explain what to do at home, whether medicine is appropriate and which symptoms mean you should seek urgent care.
Fees and booking
The Online GP offers telephone consultations for £59, up to 15 minutes , and video consultations from £150, up to 30 minutes . Availability is confirmed before booking. Prescriptions and referrals depend on clinical assessment, and an in-person eye examination may still be required. [3]
See the consultation options , call 020 3951 3429 , or email team@thewellnesslondon.com . Do not send urgent eye symptoms by email and wait for a reply.
Common questions
Is blepharitis contagious?
NHS guidance says blepharitis cannot be spread to other people. An uncertain red or sticky eye still needs the right diagnosis; not every cause has the same advice. [1]
Can I wear contact lenses?
Avoid them while you have blepharitis symptoms. Eye pain or reduced vision in a contact-lens wearer needs urgent or emergency assessment according to the symptoms, not just routine lid care. [1,2]
Why does it keep coming back?
Symptoms often come and go. NHS guidance recommends continuing lid cleaning even when the symptoms have cleared. Worsening or persistent symptoms should be reviewed. [1]
Can I use antibiotic eye drops from last time?
Do not assume that the current problem is the same. Arrange advice about the symptoms and the appropriate treatment, especially if pain, redness or vision has changed. [1,2]
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Sources
The Online GP: consultation options and current fees .
The Wellness Clinical Team. Sources checked 16 October 2026. General information, not an individual diagnosis or treatment plan.