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Blepharitis other diagnostic studies

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sara Mehrsefat, M.D. [2]

Overview

Overview

Other diagnostic studies for blepharitis include slit lamp examination, tear break up time (TBUT), and measurement of tear osmolarity.[1][2][3]

Other Diagnostic Studies

Other Diagnostic Studies

Other diagnostic studies for blepharitis include:[1][2][3][4]

Tear Break Up Time

On tear break up time (TBUT), blepharitis is characterized by tear film instability and rapid evaporation.

Measurement of Tear Osmolarity

On measurement of tear osmolarity, blepharitis concurrent with dry eye syndrome may be characterized by tear osmolarity of 316 mOsm/L or greater.

Microscopic evaluation of eyelashes

On microscopic evaluation of eyelashes, chronic blepharoconjunctivitis may be characterized by the presence of Demodex mites.

Biopsy

Biopsy of the eyelid may be indicated in the following conditions:

  • Blepharitis with marked asymmetry (possibility of carcinoma)
  • Blepharitis not responding to therapy
  • Unifocal recurrent blepharitis with chalazia
References

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Tomlinson A, Bron AJ, Korb DR, Amano S, Paugh JR, Pearce EI; et al. (2011). “The international workshop on meibomian gland dysfunction: report of the diagnosis subcommittee”. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 52 (4): 2006–49. doi:10.1167/iovs.10-6997f. PMC 3072162. PMID 21450918.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Driver PJ, Lemp MA (1996). “Meibomian gland dysfunction”. Surv Ophthalmol. 40 (5): 343–67. PMID 8779082.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Bachmeyer C, Bégon E (2013). “Chronic blepharitis”. Neth J Med. 71 (5): 259–63. PMID 23799315.
  4. McCulley JP, Dougherty JM (1985). “Blepharitis associated with acne rosacea and seborrheic dermatitis”. Int Ophthalmol Clin. 25 (1): 159–72. PMID 3156100.

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