Comparison of Efficacy of Antiseptic DROPsept and Antibiotic Tobrex in Patients with Chronic Blepharitis

Overview

Aim: To compare the efficacy and safety of DROPsept antiseptic eye drops (chlorhexidine digluconate 0.02% + Vitamin E TPGS 0.2%) with Tobrex antibiotic eye drops (tobramycin 0.3%) in patients with chronic blepharitis. Material and Methods: Forty patients with chronic blepharitis were included in this prospective clinical evaluation (Tobrex group n = 20, DROPsept group n = 20), treated 4 times daily for 1 week, followed by application of preservative-free artificial tears. All patients received instructions on eyelid hygiene, warm compresses and Meibomian gland massage. Assessment was performed at T0 (baseline), T1 (1 week) and T2 (1 month). The evaluated parameters included BSS score (Blepharitis Severity Score) (0–12), microbiological swabs and a subjective questionnaire. Results: Baseline BSS scores were comparable (Tobrex 5.55 ±1.83; DROPsept 5.80 ±1.57). After 1 week, the BSS score was significantly lower in the DROPsept group (2.86 ±1.49 vs. 4.20 ±2.09; p = 0.033). At T2, the favorable trend persisted in the DROPsept group (2.22 ±1.93 vs. 2.67 ±2.33; p = 0.689). In patients with an initially positive microbiological culture result, after a week of treatment the result was negative in 73% of patients receiving DROPsept therapy and in 57% of patients receiving Tobrex therapy. Patient satisfaction was significantly higher in the DROPsept group (9.2 ±1.4 vs. 6.6 ±2.8; p = 0.013). Conclusion: DROPsept demonstrated a faster reduction of the BSS score after 1 week (p = 0.033) and significantly higher patient satisfaction (p = 0.013). The numerically higher eradication rate (73% vs. 57%) did not reach the level of statistical significance (p = 0.627). DROPsept offers the advantage of no risk of antibiotic resistance and a favorable safety profile. These findings are exploratory; confirmation in a larger randomized controlled trial with placebo control is required.

Keywords:

Antibiotic resistance – Cataract surgery – blepharitis – chlorhexidine – antiseptic – DROPsept – tobramycin – Meibomian glands