Petroleum Jelly Versus Tea Tree Oil and Tea Tree Facial Wash Lid Scrub in Patients with Blepharitis Associated with Above-normal Demodex Count

Purpose: To determine the effectiveness of lid scrub with petroleum jelly versus lid scrub with tea tree oil and tea tree facial wash in patients with symptomatic blepharitis associated with above-normal Demodex counts Methods: Patients with symptomatic anterior blepharitis (AB), meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), or mixed blepharitis (MB) were recruited into the study. Pertinent data, including ocular symptoms and findings, were recorded. Digital photographs of the lid margins were taken. Lash sampling was done using the modified Coston method for lash epilation. Patients with below-normal Demodex counts (DC <5) were excluded while those with DC ≥5 were randomly assigned to one of either treatment regimen: (1) lid scrub with tea tree oil and tea tree facial wash (The Body Wash®, control group), or (2) lid scrub with petroleum jelly (Apollo Pure Petroleum Jelly®, study drug). Lid scrub with the tea tree oil (TTO) or petroleum jelly was administered at the clinic during the initial visit and at 2-week intervals thereafter for 6 weeks. Patients were instructed to apply tea tree (TT) facial wash or petroleum jelly at home on specified intervals daily. DC posttreatment was recorded, and digital photographs of the eyelids were taken at the end of treatment. Results: Thirteen patients were included in the study; 5 in the TTO and 8 petroleum jelly. In the TTO group, 3 patients had decrease in DC and 2 an increase, but all patients reported decrease in the severity and frequency of ocular symptoms. In the petroleum jelly group, 5 patients had decrease in DC after 6 weeks, while the remaining 3 had opposite results. All reported a general improvement in their symptoms. No adverse reactions were observed in either treatment groups. Philipp J Ophthalmol 2012;37:73-82