Role of Azithromycin in the treatment of children meibomian gland disease

Abstract

AbstractPurpose To determine the usefulness of azitromycin eye drops in the treatment of moderate to severe meibomian gland disease (MGD) in children;Methods Prospective study conducted on 78 children with MGD. At the first examination, all patients already experienced various ophthalmological treatments without any success leading us to test azithromycin eye drops, a macrolide family with anti‐inflammatory properties. The treatment consisted on azithromycin twice a day during 5 days repeated each month for 3 months associated with Dexamethasone eye drops (6 drops a day during one week, the firs month) and daily eyelid hygiene (manual or warm glasses) during the all the treatment course.The follow‐up visits were performed on D7, D30, D60 and D90 with slit lamp examination and photographyResults 78 children were included, 76.4% had severe corneal complications (neovascularization, ulcers, phlyctenular keratitis). After the first week of treatment, a marked improvement in symptoms was observed in all children probably due to the effect of dexametasone drops, At D60; we observed improvement in corneal signs in 76.8% of cases with a significant decrease of corneal neovessels and phlyctenular. Associated with azithromycin eye drops, warm glasses showed a better efficacy than manual technic. In 5 cases, in spite of more than 3 months treatment with azithromycin, the results were no conclusive;Conclusion Azithromycin associated with eyelid hygiene is a very effective in treatment in children with MGD; furthermore, its ease of use, its very good efficacy and the absence of side effects, makes this therapy a good alternative and choice in this disease,