Abstract
Purpose :
Demodex blepharitis (DB) is present in a significant number of eyecare patients, yet many patients continue to suffer due to improper diagnosis, minimized or underappreciated significance of findings by the eye care professional (ECP), inadequate management, and the lack of FDA-approved treatments. The purpose of this study was to further evaluate (as a continuation of 311 patients presented previously) the clinical impact of DB, impact on patients’ quality of life and motivations for seeking care.
Methods :
Patients 18 years of age and older were recruited from 12 eye care centers in the US to participate in this DB screening study. The investigators examined patients for objective signs of DB: ≥1.0 mite count, >10 collarettes, and ≥mild lid margin erythema. Patients with all three signs were asked to complete a questionnaire about their symptoms, quality of life, and treatment experience. Impact of DB on contact lens wearers was also collected.
Results :
Among 129 patients, 32% made at least two visits to their doctor due to signs or symptoms associated with DB. Unfortunately, 63% of the patients have never been previously diagnosed for DB. The most bothersome symptoms reported in this group were itchy eyes (53%), dry eyes (44%), irritated eyes (31%), foreign body sensation (26%), tearing (23%), and red eyes/eyelids (23%). Approaches to mitigate DB symptoms included warm compresses (46%), lid wipes (29%), artificial tears (48%), antibiotics/steroids (25%), and various tea tree oil preparations (21%). Among those who discontinued aforementioned management approaches, 52% discontinued due to ineffectiveness or intolerability. Among contact lens wearers (11%), 79% of patients complained of discomfort and/or blurry/foggy vision while wearing contact lenses.
Conclusions :
Demodex blepharitis is underdiagnosed and often misdiagnosed despite chronically persisting signs and symptoms that often require multiple visits to ECP, typically without resolution. More effective treatments for DB are needed, which will clear the signs of DB and have a positive impact on patients’ eyelid health and quality of life. Aggregated data with larger sample size upon study completion, to be presented, will corroborate these findings.
This abstract was presented at the 2022 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Denver, CO, May 1-4, 2022, and virtually.