How To Treat Recurring Blepharitis/MGD - Chronic Dry Eyes

 How To Treat Recurring Blepharitis/MGD - Chronic Dry Eyes

This is an abstract from Optometric Management titled New Treatments for Blepharitis- “Meibomian Gland Deficiency ( MGD)

Abstract

Majority (75%) of patients with Blepharitis also has chronic dry eye syndrome.  The symptoms often feel similar.  Blepharitis tends to recur, Customers with Blepharitis often has rosacea on the face, nose, flaky skin, dandruff, or certain bacterial or mites growing on the eye lashes.  It is recommended that you wear no make up on the eyes. 

There are newer options to offer our patients who continue to suffer the effects of meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), despite our best efforts with traditional therapies.  MGD is reported to afflict 67.2% of people over the age of 60 in the United States. Common treatments include:

1. Hot compresses 2-3 times per day.  Each time gently massage your eye lids after wards .  A hot wash cloth is not good enough.

2. Essential fatty acids – such as Omega 3 Fish Oil or Flaxseed Oil for their strong anti- inflammatory properties

3. topical and oral antibiotics

4. topical cyclosporine. 

5. Clean eye lids - we recommend a hypochlorous acid based cleanser to prevent re-attachment of bacteria or mites.Two newly described therapies for MGD include 

            o  Gland Probing - Intraductal Meibomian Gland Probing

            o  Intense Pulsed Light (IPL).

Gland Probing

Meibomian gland probing was proposed by Steven Maskin, MD using a 76 micron, stainless steel probe of 2- or 4 mm length to unblock glands.  He presented a case series of 25 patients diagnosed with MGD, based on lid margin or tarsal hyperemia, telangiectasia, thickening or irregularity or meibomian gland metaplasia, plus lid tenderness upon palpation; or subjective complaints such as stickiness, irritation or discomfort. Gland patency was assessed via transillumination to determine the best candidates for probing; intact or atrophied glands were avoided. After anesthesia with either tetravisc or 4% lidocaine, the 2 mm probe was passed through the gland perpendicular to the lid margin.  During the probing, there was mild resistance at the level of the orifice; more moderate resistance associated with a gritty sensation; and more severe resistance suggestive of fibrovascular tissue that was able to be penetrated with mild additional pressure.  Twenty-four of 25 patients (96%) had immediate post-probing relief, while all patients reported relief of symptoms by four months post-procedure.  Twenty patients (80%) did not need re-treatment by average follow-up of 11.2 months, while the remaining five patients (20%) required re-treatment at an average of four to six months. 

Intense Pulse Light (IPL)

Another experimental treatment is Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), introduced by Rolando Toyos, MD. The treatment uses heat from a special flash lamp to melt the obstructions in the meibomian gland orifices.¹²  When originally used in dermatology for acne and rosacea patients,  IPL patients would subsequently report that their eyes felt better post treatment.  In 2003, Toyos conducted a study in which 100 patients with treatment resistant MGD were treated with IPL on the lower lid on only one side.  He reported that following treatment, the MGD was improved, both subjectively and clinically.  Dr. Toyos claims that when the light is absorbed by the blood vessels, the heat that is generated melts the secretions and opens the glands, decreasing the inflammatory cytokines, and allows for easier expression and improvement of tear film stability.  There’s also some evidence that IPL decreases parasites on the eyelash margin that can cause meibomian gland problems.  It usually takes three to four treatments over the course of four months, with maintenance treatments required every six to twelve months.

As the number of dry eye patients in our practices continues to grow, newer and more innovative methods of diagnosis and management will enable us to treat more of these patients more efficaciously.

Why TheraLife Eye?

Combination of Theralife Eye and Eye Lid Cleansing, Omega 3 Fish Oil will allow you to recover from this disorder. 

 Underlying cause of Blepahritis is often chronic dry eyes.  Blepharitis tends to recur.  Typical signs of Blepharitis is inflamed eye lids, red eyes, tired, irritated.  TheraLife Eye stimulates both the Lacrimal gland for tear secretion, and meibomian gland to secrete balanced tears that lasts all day long.  Combination with effective eye lid cleansing will get rid of this condition.  

To learn more

Call us toll free: 1-877-917-1989 US and Canada.  International (650) 949-6080   email to   :info@theralife.com

REFERENCES

1. Bron AJ, Tiffany JM. The contribution of meibomian disease to dry eye. Ocul Surf. 2004 Apr;2(2):149-65.
2. Pinna A, Piccinini P, Carta F. Effect of oral linoleic and gamma-linolenic acid on meibomian gland dysfunction. Cornea. 2007 Apr;26(3):260-4.
3. Foulks GN, Borchman D, Yappert M, et al. Topical azithromycin therapy for meibomian gland dysfunction: clinical response and lipid alterations. Cornea.2010 Jul;29(7):781-8.
4. Luchs J. Efficacy of topical azithromycin ophthalmic solution 1% in the treatment of posterior blepharitis. Adv Ther. 2008;25:858-70.
5. Dougherty JM, McCulley JP, Silvany RE, Meyer DR. The role of tetracycline in chronic blepharitis. Inhibition of lipase production in staphylococci. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1991 Oct;32(11):2970-5.
6. Ralph RA. Tetracyclines and the treatment of corneal stromal ulceration: a review. Cornea. 2000 May;19(3):274-7.
7. Stone DU, Chodosh J. Oral tetracyclines for ocular rosacea: an evidence based review of the literature. Cornea. 2004 Jan;23(1):106-9.
8. Yoo SE, Lee DC, Chang MH. The effect of low-dose doxycycline therapy in chronic