Current evidence for topical azithromycin 1% ophthalmic solution in the treatment of blepharitis and blepharitis-associated ocular dryness.

Blepharitis, one of the most commonly treated ophthalmic conditions, can also be one of the most frustrating for the managing clinician. Although this is due in part to the chronic nature of the disease, the diversity of therapeutic options and lack of definitive scientific evidence for any single course of treatment also add significant challenge to clinical management. Despite these difficulties, the prevalence of blepharitis and its role in dry eye or dysfunctional tear syndrome (DTS) make effective management of the disease essential to patient comfort and satisfaction. Azithromycin 1% ophthalmic solution (AzaSite: Inspire Pharmaceuticals), currently the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved for the treatment of conjunctivitis caused by susceptible isolates, has been investigated as a possible off-label treatment for chronic blepharitis. This study examines the current evidence for AzaSite as a treatment for chronic blepharitis and blepharitis-associated DTS.