Research progress of antibiotics in the treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction

Abstract

Meibomian gland dysfunction(MGD)is a chronic, diffuse blepharoplasty that is characterized by obstruction of the terminal ducts of the blepharoplasty gland and abnormal lid ester secretion, which is a common ocular surface disease as well as the major cause of hyper evaporation type dry eye. MGD can cause ocular surface lid ester abnormalities and bacterial proliferation, which in turn leads to associated ocular symptoms. Physical therapies and medicines are widely used to treat MGD in clinics. Through the topical or systemic use of antibiotics that are effective anti-bacteria medicine, ocular surface symptoms caused by MGD-induced bacterial proliferation and abnormal eyelid lipids can be alleviated. Currently, the effectiveness of various types of antibiotics in treating MGD has been demonstrated. In this review, the mechanism, modality, and efficacy of various antibiotics in the treatment of MGD were highlighted and summarized from the perspective of topical or systemic use of antibiotics, which can provide promising guidance for clinical treatments of MGD.

Keywords

• meibomian gland dysfunction
• antibiotics
• dry eye
• blepharitis