Prevalence of Demodex infestation in Iranian patients with chronic blepharitis vs normal population

Session Details

Session Title: Ocular Infections & Other Topics

Session Date/Time: Sunday 15/09/2019 | 08:00-10:00

Paper Time: 08:36

Venue: Free Paper Forum: Podium 4

First Author: : H.Mohammad Rabei IRAN

Co Author(s): :    M. Javadi   S. Hosseini   N. Behnaz   D. Roshandel   S. Feizi   Z. Ghadiani              

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To determine the prevalence of demodex infestation in patients with chronic blepharitis versus normal subjects in Iranian population.

Setting:

Torfeh and Labbafinejad Hospitals in Tehran, Iran.

Methods:

In this case-control study the prevalence of demodex infestation was compared between 102 patients with chronic blepharitis and 101 normal population. Lash sampling was performed by epilating the lashes. Every eyelash with cylindrical dandruff was chosen to epilate. totally four lashes were collected from each patient, two lashes from superior eyelid and two from inferior eyelid. Then the collected lashes were inspected for demodex based on morphology using a light microscope. The time interval between sampling and observation was less than 12 h. The main outcome measure was the prevalence of demodex infestation in each study group.

Results:

The prevalence of Demodex in total study group was 26.1% and the prevalence in blepharitis group was 26.5%. This prevalence in the control group was 25.7% indicating no statistically significant difference. Demodex presence was related to older age, cylindrical dandruff, and some clinical symptoms such as ocular itching and burning.

Conclusions:

It seems that demodex infestation may not be related to chronic blepharitis. Prevalence of demodex infestation was increased by aging and it showed negative association with oily scales.

Financial Disclosure:

None