Abstract
Purpose :
Characterize the real-world journey of patients with Demodex blepharitis, including unmet needs, risk factors, symptoms, and current management options/treatments. In addition, the study seeks to understand the outcomes of management option/treatment, reasons for altering management strategies, and changes in the patient journey over time with new treatments.
Methods :
In this ongoing, multicenter, real-world study, up to 500 patients and their eye care providers (ECPs) are being surveyed longitudinally. Patients with Demodex blepharitis are asked to complete a self-administered, web-assisted questionnaire about demographics, current symptomology, comorbidities, and current treatment experience. Surveys are administered at baseline, 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. ECPs are also surveyed about their baseline experience with Demodex blepharitis, patients’ clinical characteristics, rationale for treatment change, treatment goals, dosing, compliance, and other factors.
Results :
47 patients enrolled in the study as of December 2023. Current top Demodex blepharitis symptoms include dryness of the eyes throughout the day (80%), watery eyes (80%), foreign body sensation (73%), redness of eyes (60%), itchy eyes (53%), itchy eyelids (53%), crusted eyes/eyelashes (53%), and burning or stinging (53%). Demodex blepharitis patients were being managed with the following to alleviate their symptoms: lubricating eye drops/artificial tears (33%), at-home eyelid wipes/washes (33%), tea tree eyelid cleanser (27%), warm eye compress (20%), tea tree oil (13%), in-office eyelid scrub (13%), and lifitegrast (13%).
Conclusions :
Results of this ongoing real-world study, thus far, indicate that current management strategies for Demodex blepharitis are not satisfactory, as indicated by the majority of patients reporting multiple symptoms due to Demodex blepharitis. Long-term data from more patients will provide further insight to the impact of Demodex blepharitis and the optimal treatment path.
This abstract was presented at the 2024 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, WA, May 5-9, 2024.