Topical loteprednol may aid in the treatment of MGD

Patients with moderate and severe meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) may benefit from topical loteprednol etabonate and eyelid scrubs with warm compresses, according to researchers in South Korea. They found the treatment well-tolerated and efficacious, with beneficial effects particularly manifesting after 1 month.

In a study published online in the American Journal of Ophthalmology, the researchers conducted a randomized, controlled trial of two groups of patients with moderate and severe MGD. Group I (34 eyes) received topical loteprednol etabonate and eyelid scrubs with warm compresses; Group II (36 patients) used eyelid scrubs and warm compresses alone. The patients were assessed before treatment and at 1 and 2 months of treatment.

In Group I, the researchers found significant decreases in the levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and IL-1β; the researchers cited a remarkable observed decrease in these cytokines between pre-treatment measurements and measurements taken after 1 month of treatment. Patients in Group II experienced significant decreases in the levels of IL-6 and IL-8.

Compared with the patients in Group II, patients in Group I showed superior improvements in the clinical outcomes measured, including tear film break-up time, corneal and conjunctival fluorescein staining, and meibum quality after 1 month of treatment.

In addition, patients in Group I displayed a more remarkable improvement in meibomian gland expressibility and MGD stage reduction than those in Group II.

To read an abstract of the study, click here.