Real-World Burden of Demodex Blepharitis in the UK

Dr. Radhika Rampat presents a UK multicenter cross-sectional, retrospective audit evaluating the real-world burden of demodex blepharitis. She explains that blepharitis is a common inflammatory eyelid disease, and around two-thirds of cases are linked to Demodex mite overgrowth, identified by collarettes at the lash base. Among 493 routine adult eye clinic patients, 57.8% had demodex blepharitis, and about a quarter had moderate to severe disease (>10 collarettes). Demodex blepharitis was particularly prevalent in patients with glaucoma, cataract, meibomian gland dysfunction, rosacea, and dry eye disease, and most affected patients reported multiple ocular symptoms, including burning, dryness, visual fluctuation, and nocturnal eyelid itch. She notes that current management relies on a wide range of treatments with limited symptom resolution. Dr. Rampat emphasizes that demodex blepharitis is underdiagnosed, burdens NHS resources, and impacts surgical planning and infection risk. She also highlights a major unmet need for targeted demodex blepharitis-directed therapy.