Po ailtin Children Have New Hygiene Treatment For Dry Eye And Eyelid Bacteria (NAPSA)—Manyadults suffer from often-painfuleye conditions like dry eye and blepharitis. But surprisingly, these conditions also afflict many children, says Steven Le J. Lichtenstein, M.D., Associate Profes- sor of Clinical Surgery and Pediatrics at the University ofIllinois College of Medicine, and Medical Director of Pedi- atric Ophthalmology at Children’s Hospital ofIllinois. “I see many children in myprivate practice at the Illinois Eye Center,’ says Dr. Lichtenstein, an internationally rec- ognized expert on pediatric ophthalmology. “Someof them have blepharitis, where bacteria on the eyelids contrib- ute 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 cruciallayer of the tear film that helps keep the eyes lubricated withtears, so the blockage can cause dry eye or inflammation,’ Dr. Lichtenstein explains. In fact, children can be especially at risk for these conditions, ophthalmolo- gists say. “The reason is that these problems are caused or exacerbated by bacteria and tinyparasitic mites that live on the eyelids,’ says Dr. Lichtenstein. “Children may add to the microbial populations by rubbingtheir eyes or failing to washtheir faces frequently” In the past, doctorstreated youngpatients with warm compresses, antibiot- ics or steroids. But noneoftheseis ideal. Dr. Steve Lichtenstein, one of the nation’s top pediatric ophthalmologists, helps a young patient recover from eye inflammation using Avenova, a new eyelid hygiene product. “The warm compresses typically bring only temporary relief, while steroids and antibiotics have sideeffects that are often more worrisomein children than in adults,” says Dr. Lichtenstein. But recently, Dr. Lichtenstein and others have turned to a moreeffective and safer approach—aneyelid hygiene product called Avenova with Neutrox from NovaBay Pharmaceuticals. “Avenova kills and removes the bacteria and mites, directly fighting the cause ofblepharitis, meibomian gland blockage andother problems,” says Dr. Lichtenstein. Dr. Lichtenstein reports that Avenova makes the inflammation, pain and other problems go away—andthatthe children say that Avenovafeels refreshing, brings quickrelief andis easy to use. Theseattri- butes also increase compliance, whichis a cornerstone of any successful treatment.
