Standard treatment regime required for blebitis

A standard treatment regime is required for the management of blebitis, revealed a study featured in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.

The anonymous survey was conducted by Dr Patrick Chiam et al., Ophthalmology Department, Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, UK, and included 13 questions determining blebitis management. The χ2 analysed any correlations that occurred amongst the participants' answers to the questionnaire.

Data from 68 of the 112 questionnaires, answered by glaucoma consultants, was used in the investigation. It was recorded that 55% of consultants admitted blebitis patients to hospital. A conjuncitval swab was administered to 74% of the patients and 28% were treated with instil iodine on the conjunctiva.

A further 34% of consultants used topical fluroquinolone monotherapy, 28% used cefuroxime and gentamicin, 18% administered fluroquinolone with cefuroxime and 9% used ceftazidime and vancomycin.

Oral antibiotics are prescribed by 69% of consultants and the only antibiotic used is fluroquinolones. Topical corticosteroids are used by 82% of conulstants and 91% use a topical cycloplegic.

Of the consultants who completed the survey, 23% treat blebitis as endophthalmitis, with or without anterior chamber (AC) activity. A further 38% would treat blebitis as endophthalmitis if AC activity was moderate and 34% would if AC activity was severe.

The investigation suggests that, due to the existence of a wide variation in blebitis management regimes, a standard treatment regime is needed.