THE EYES AND EB
Ms Gillian SIM Ophthalmic Nurse Specialist
Mr Malcolm Kerr-Muir Consultant Ophthalmologist
Eyelids
The eyelids serve to protect the
delicate structures of the eye. They are made up of skin, muscle and fibrous tissue. The
skin of the eyelids is amongst the thinnest anywhere on the body.
The skin of the eyelids joins the
conjunctiva at the lid margins, which also contain the Meibomian glands for the tear film,
and the eyelashes. At the inner aspect of the upper and lower lid margins (towards the
nose), there are small ducts, which drain away excess tears into the back of the nose.
The eyelids close over the eye
(blinking) many times per minute, but can also be closed voluntarily. Blinking aids the
flow of tears across the eye, and the lids can be closed to form an added protective layer
at times of potential trauma. The eyelids are closed over the eye at night to help reduce
the evaporation of tears.
Disruption of the eyelid structures can
result in problems with the tearfilms’ efficiency/production, and can cause continued
irritation to the eye itself. |
