Overview

• UK eye surgeons report a sharp increase in demodex blepharitis cases over the past two to three years.
• Low-temperature washing has grown so that two-thirds of UK laundry runs at 40°C or below, allowing dust mites to persist in sheets and pillows.
• Demodex blepharitis can trigger eyelid redness, swelling, corneal inflammation, lumps on eyelids and eyelash hair loss.
• Experts advise washing bedding at 60°C or higher to kill mites, citing a lethal threshold around 54–58°C.
• Common treatments include over-the-counter tea tree oil gels, eyelid scrubs and prescription ivermectin solutions.