Comparison of topical azithromycin ophthalmic solution ۱% and erythromycin eye ointment on the posterior blepharitis

Introduction: Blepharitis, chronic inflammation of the eyelid, is one of the most common eye diseases that involve eyelashes, parotid glands, and apocrine. The most important symptoms of blepharitis are burning and irritation of the eyes, which are more severe in the morning. Azithromycin ۱% solution is a new therapeutic method for treating blepharitis, which has recently entered Iran. The purpose of this study was to compare the treatment of ۱% azithromycin eye drops and erythromycin topical ointment on the symptoms and signs of blepharitis. Method: In this clinical trial study, ۹۸ patients with posterior blepharitis referred to the ophthalmology clinic of Razi Hospital in Birjand in ۲۰۲۰ and ۲۰۲۱ were studied based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Patients were randomly divided into two groups receiving erythromycin and ۱% azithromycin by the blocking method. A two-part questionnaire was completed for the patients before and after the intervention. In the first part of the questionnaire, the demographic information of the patients and the signs and symptoms of the disease, including the degree of dry eyes, redness and swelling of the eyes, itchy eyes, and in the second part, the standard Ocular Surface Disease Index questionnaire was completed by self-declaration. The SMTube test was also performed by the project manager for the patients. The intensity of color sensitivity was checked and recorded by an eye specialist. After collecting the data, they were entered into SPSS software )Version ۱۸) and analyzed by independent T, Mann-Whitney, paired t, Chi-Square and Fisher's exact test at the significance level less than ۵%. Results: Out of a total of ۹۸ patients, ۵۲ patients (۵۳.۱%) were female. At the beginning of the study, there was no significant difference between the average OSDI index, staining intensity and SMTube, and at the end of the study, there was no significant difference between the two groups (P>۰.۰۵). Conclusion: Based on the results of the present study, the efficacy of azithromycin eye drops in the patients was the same as the efficacy of topical erythromycin ointment in patients with posterior blepharitis.

Keywords:

Blepharitis , Azithromycin , Eye Drops