Role of Blepharoexfoliation in Demodex Blepharitis: A Randomized Comparative Study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of blepharoexfoliation in the treatment of Demodex blepharitis.

METHODS

Patients with microscopically approved Demodex blepharitis were enrolled. Patients in the treatment group were treated once with in-office blepharoexfoliation (BlephEx LLC; Franklin, TN) using tea tree oil 2% shampoo, followed by eyelid scrubs with tea tree oil 2% shampoo twice a day for 8 weeks. Patients in the control group were treated with the same protocol, except for the in-office sham blepharoexfoliation procedure. As the main outcome measurement, the changes in the severity of symptoms [Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) score] were compared. The changes in Demodex count and meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) severity were compared as the secondary outcome measurements.

RESULTS

Eighty-one patients (36 male and 45 female) were included. The mean age of the patients was 53.56 ± 8.13 years. The mean baseline OSDI score was 33.30 ± 11.80. The mean baseline Demodex count was 4.84 ± 1.49. The Demodex count at the baseline visit was moderately correlated with the baseline OSDI score (R = 0.526, P = 0.011) and baseline MGD severity ( P = 0.02). At the 8-week visit, the OSDI score was 22.62 ± 8.23 and 27.09 ± 9.11 in the blepharoexfoliation and control groups, respectively ( P = 0.016). At the 8-week visit, the Demodex count was 2.6 ± 1.08 and 3.03 ± 1.27 in the treatment and control groups, respectively ( P = 0.025). MGD improved in both groups ( P = 0.84). In the blepharoexfoliation group, the change in the OSDI score was moderately correlated with the baseline OSDI score (R = 0.611, P = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

One session of blepharoexfoliation, followed by manual eyelid scrubs was more effective than eyelid scrubs alone in reducing patients' symptoms and Demodex count.