Eyelid Diseases

Abstract

This chapter reviews eyelid malpositions, benign and malignant tumors, infections, and inflammatory diseases of the eyelid. Eyelid lesions can originate in any layer or structure within the eyelid and eyelid adnexa. Benign tumors of the eyelid can often be diagnosed based on their characteristic appearance. A biopsy should be performed if an eyelid lesion is not easily diagnosed based on clinical appearance. Blepharitis and meibomitis are very common disorders. Despite their prevalence, these diseases are often overlooked and misdiagnosed. Meibomian gland dysfunction is a major cause of evaporative dry eye and can occur along with aqueous deficient dry eye. Bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites can cause infection of the eyelids in different locations, anterior, posterior, angular, which can have different courses, acute, intermediate, or chronic. This chapter also contains photos with a rare disorder, Urbach-Wiethe disease, demonstrating the lesions of lipoid proteinosis at the lower and upper eyelids.