Topical azithromycin and oral doxycycline in Meibomian gland dysfunction

Session Details

Session Title: Presented Poster Session: Medical Cornea

Venue: Poster Village: Pod 3

First Author: : V.Jhanji USA

Co Author(s): :    K. Lam   W. Chow                    

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To determine if combined topical azithromycin and oral doxycycline is superior to topical azithromycin alone in management of meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).

Setting:

Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Chinese University of Hong Kong Hong Kong Eye Hospital.

Methods:

First 20 patients with symptomatic MGD of an ongoing double- blinded randomized controlled study were randomized to Group 1 (topical azithromycin 1.5% and placebo tablet for 28 days) or Group 2 (topical azithromycin 1.5% and oral doxycycline 100mg daily for 28 days). Patients were assessed at baseline, 2 weeks and 1 month with Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) and Standardized Patient Evaluation of Eye Dryness (SPEED) questionnaires, slit lamp and Keratograph.

Results:

Improvement was not seen at 2 weeks but was evident by 1 month. In Group 1, SPEED score improved significantly by -3.89+/-4.91(p=0.044), while improvement in OSDI was not yet significant [-13.40+/-18.91 (p=0.066)]. In Group 2, SPEED score improved significantly by -2.45+/-3.59(p= 0.043) and OSDI improved significantly by -10.63+/-11.85 (p= 0.017). However, the improvements in SPEED and OSDI scores were not statistically different between the 2 groups. Group 1 also showed significant improvement in duration of a blink as measured by Keratograph(+3.50+/-3.51s,p=0.036), but was not statistically different from Group 2. Other parameters were not statistically different from baseline in both groups.

Conclusions:

Topical azithromycin significantly improved symptoms and signs of of MGD. Addition of oral doxycycline did not seem to confer additional benefit at 1 month. Continuation of this study with a larger sample size e and longer follow-up is underway to ascertain the effects of these medications.

Financial Disclosure:

None