Abstract
Purpose:
To determine the usefulness of azitromycin eye drops in the treatment of moderate to severe meibomian gland disease (MGD) in children
Methods:
Prospective study conducted between May 2011 and June 2013 on 85 children with MGD. At the first examination, all patients already experienced various ophthalmological treatments without any success leading us to test azithromycin eye drops, a macrolide family with anti-inflammatory properties.The treatment consisted on azithromycin twice a day during 5 days repeated each month for 3 months associated with Dexamethasone eye drops (6 drops a day during one week, the first month) and daily eyelid hygiene (manual or warm glasses) during the all the treatment course.The follow-up visits were performed on D7, D30, D60 and D90 with slit lamp examination (eyelids, BUT, conjunctival and corneal damages) and photography.
Results:
85 children (18 months-16 years) were included, 79,4had severe corneal complications (neovascularization, ulcers, phlyctenular keratitis). After the first week of treatment, a marked improvement in symptoms was observed in all children probably due to the effect of dexametasone drops, At D60 we observed improvement in corneal signs in 76.8% of cases with a significant decrease of corneal neovessels and phlyctenular keratitis. Associated with azithromycin eye drops, warm glasses showed a better efficacy than manual technic. In 5 cases, in spite of more than 3 months treatment with azithromycin, the results were no conclusive.
Conclusions:
Azithromycin associated with eyelid hygiene is a very effective in treatment in children with MGD, furthermore, its ease of use, its very good efficacy and the absence of side effects, makes this therapy a good alternative and choice in this disease.
Keywords: 486 cornea: tears/tear film/dry eye •
557 inflammation