Blepharitis Treatment Using BlephEx: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Hamidreza Hasani1 *
- Ophthalmology Department, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences
Abstract: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of BlephEx device in the treatment of blepharitis.
Methods: Seventy-eight patients with mild to severe blepharitis were enrolled in a randomized, controlled, multicenter study with a 12 month follow up. Patients were randomly divided into two groups according to treatment: Patients in the control group underwent standard therapies administered by the ophthalmologist and case group patients received BlephEx™️ microblepharoexfoliation device in addition to the standard treatments. Patients were examined three times by an ophthalmologist at each visit; upon diagnosis, three months, and 12 months after initiation of treatment.
Results: The baseline Tear Break-Up Time (TBUT) was 8.12±1.26 (mean±SD) and 8.84±1.04 in the case group and control group, respectively. The following TBUT in a three month follow up was 13.44±2.14 in the case group and 10.76±1.21 in the control group. Interestingly, the TBUT in a one year follow up was 11.2±1.99 in the case group and 9.76±1.03 in the control group. Symptoms reported by the patients in both had significantly improved after three months of treatment. (P-value<0.001). Overall, applying TBUT, SPEED, and OSDI, there was a significant difference between standard and BlephEx treatment group in all follow-ups, except 12-month follow-up using OSDI questionnaire.
Conclusion: Both treatment plans were found effective in reducing patient’s symptoms, although application of BlephEx in addition to the standard treatments showed more promising results for patients suffering from blepharitis in both short term and long term evaluation
