Tea Tree Oil in the Treatment of Chronic Blepharitis
Summary
The purpose of this study is to determine:
- The prevalence of Demodex sp. in chronic blepharitis.
- The efficacy of the treatment of topical Tree Tea Oil in chronic blepharitis for Demodex sp.
Description
Patients with clinical diagnosis of chronic blepharitis were included in this study. A check list of symptoms and an ophthalmologic examination including best corrected visual acuity and biomicroscopy were performed.
Under a slit lamp visualization, three lashes with cylindrical dandruff of each eyelid were epilated by fine forceps. The lashes were immersed in fluorescein dye and examined under a light microscope at a 20-times magnification. The mites were detected based on its morphological characteristics and movement.
The patients with chronic blepharitis who had Demodex were randomly divided in two groups. The treatment group was prescribed lid hygiene with Tea Tree Oil shampoo 0.25% and ointment 5% daily and Tea Tree Oil oily solution 50% once a week - produced by Ophthalmos, São Paulo. The control group used the same posology of placebo similar products.
After six weeks, all subjects underwent the initial clinical and laboratory examination. The symptoms and the quantity of mites (mites/eye) were compared before and after the treatment in both groups.
Study Design
Allocation: Randomized, Control: Placebo Control, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Double Blind (Subject, Investigator), Primary Purpose: Treatment
Conditions
Blepharitis
Intervention
Tea Tree Oil
Location
Federal University of Sao Paulo
Sao Paulo
SP
Brazil
04038040
Status
Completed
Source
Federal University of São Paulo
Results (where available)
Links
- Source: http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01073150
- Information obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov on July 15, 2010
Medical and Biotech [MESH] Definitions
Tupaiidae
The only family of the order SCANDENTIA, variously included in the order Insectivora or in the order Primates, and often in the order Microscelidea, consisting of five genera. They are TUPAIA, Ananthana (Indian tree shrew), Dendrogale (small smooth-tailed tree shrew), Urogale (Mindanao tree shrew), and Ptilocercus (pen-tailed tree shrew). The tree shrews inhabit the forest areas of eastern Asia from India and southwestern China to Borneo and the Philippines.
Blepharitis
Inflammation of the eyelids.
Tea Tree Oil
Essential oil extracted from Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree). It is used as a topical antimicrobial due to the presence of terpineol.
Melaleuca
A plant genus of the family MYRTACEAE. M. alternifolia foliage is a source of TEA TREE OIL. The common name of tea tree also refers to LEPTOSPERMUM or KUNZEA. M. vindifolia is a source of niaouli oil. M. cajuputi and M. leucadendra are sources of cajuput oil.
Hemlock
Any of several poisonous plants, commonly called poison hemlock, of the CICUTA or CONIUM genus. The hemlock tree (TSUGA) is completely unrelated being a coniferous tree of the pine family.
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