Tweet
Really, we ought to take a clue from the label itself: "No More Tears". As if we don't need all we can get!
Baby shampoo is not only a poor tool for the job of lid hygiene compared to the MANY other things available specifically for the purpose, but it's also irritating to the eyes of a great many of us.
[Eyelid hygiene for contact lens wearers with blepharitis : Comparative investigation of treatment with baby shampoo versus phospholipid solution.]
BACKGROUND:
Blepharitis due to Meibom gland dysfunction (MGD) is presumed to be one of the main reasons for dry eye symptoms which occur in up to 50% of contact lens users. Thus, MGD presumably plays an important role in dry eye in contact lens wearers. In the present prospective, randomized and double blind trial the efficacy of two established treatment options for MGD and blepharitis was evaluated in symptomatic contact lens wearers.
METHODS:
In this prospective, randomized 2-centre trial 53 symptomatic contact lens wearers suffering from blepharitis were included. Patients were randomly selected for two treatment groups: group A performed lid margin hygiene using the commonly recommended mild baby shampoo (Bübchen Kinder Shampoo-extra augenmild, Bübchen Werk Ewald Hermes Pharmazeutische Fabrik GmbH, Soest, Germany) and group B performed lid margin hygiene using a phospholipid-liposome solution specially designed for lid hygiene (Blepha Cura, Optima, Moosburg/Wang, Germany), each for 4 weeks. Before as well as 4 weeks after initiation of this study the following tests were performed: standardized subjective assessment using the ocular surface disease index, non-invasive break-up time (NIBUT) and objective evaluation of lid-parallel conjunctival folds (LIPCOF) and further lid margin criteria by double blinded evaluation of slit lamp photographs.
RESULTS:
Of the 53 symptomatic contact lens wearers suffering from blepharitis 21 (39,6%) were randomly selected for treatment group A and 32 (60.4%) for group B. In both treatment groups there was objective and subjective improvement of symptoms of dry eye in contact lens wearers. Interestingly, there was a significantly greater improvement, subjective as well as objective, in treatment group B which used the phospholipidliposome solution for lid margin hygiene compared to group A using baby shampoo.
CONCLUSIONS:
Although both therapies improved symptoms of dry eye due to blepharitis in symptomatic contact lens wearers, patients using phospholipid-liposomal solution for lid margin hygiene demonstrated a significantly greater clinical benefit from the therapy. Thus, clinical practice recommending just baby shampoo for lid margin hygiene should be re-considered, as phospholipid-liposomal solution for lid margin hygiene appears to yield greater and faster clinical benefits for symptomatic contact lens wearers suffering from dry eye symptoms.
Blepharitis due to Meibom gland dysfunction (MGD) is presumed to be one of the main reasons for dry eye symptoms which occur in up to 50% of contact lens users. Thus, MGD presumably plays an important role in dry eye in contact lens wearers. In the present prospective, randomized and double blind trial the efficacy of two established treatment options for MGD and blepharitis was evaluated in symptomatic contact lens wearers.
METHODS:
In this prospective, randomized 2-centre trial 53 symptomatic contact lens wearers suffering from blepharitis were included. Patients were randomly selected for two treatment groups: group A performed lid margin hygiene using the commonly recommended mild baby shampoo (Bübchen Kinder Shampoo-extra augenmild, Bübchen Werk Ewald Hermes Pharmazeutische Fabrik GmbH, Soest, Germany) and group B performed lid margin hygiene using a phospholipid-liposome solution specially designed for lid hygiene (Blepha Cura, Optima, Moosburg/Wang, Germany), each for 4 weeks. Before as well as 4 weeks after initiation of this study the following tests were performed: standardized subjective assessment using the ocular surface disease index, non-invasive break-up time (NIBUT) and objective evaluation of lid-parallel conjunctival folds (LIPCOF) and further lid margin criteria by double blinded evaluation of slit lamp photographs.
RESULTS:
Of the 53 symptomatic contact lens wearers suffering from blepharitis 21 (39,6%) were randomly selected for treatment group A and 32 (60.4%) for group B. In both treatment groups there was objective and subjective improvement of symptoms of dry eye in contact lens wearers. Interestingly, there was a significantly greater improvement, subjective as well as objective, in treatment group B which used the phospholipidliposome solution for lid margin hygiene compared to group A using baby shampoo.
CONCLUSIONS:
Although both therapies improved symptoms of dry eye due to blepharitis in symptomatic contact lens wearers, patients using phospholipid-liposomal solution for lid margin hygiene demonstrated a significantly greater clinical benefit from the therapy. Thus, clinical practice recommending just baby shampoo for lid margin hygiene should be re-considered, as phospholipid-liposomal solution for lid margin hygiene appears to yield greater and faster clinical benefits for symptomatic contact lens wearers suffering from dry eye symptoms.
[Article in German]
Khaireddin R.
Augenarzt im JosefCarrée Bochum, St.Josef-Hospital,Universitätsklinikum der Ruhruniversität Bochum, Gudrunstr. 56, 44791, Bochum, Deutschland, augenarzt@klinikum-bochum.de.
'Chemical surfactants within baby shampoo may have a preventative role against bacterial biofilm formation. Shampoo preparations based on surfactants, sodium lauryl sulphate and cocamido propyl betaine provide microorganisms with environment conducive for their growth and will remain susceptible to microbial attack during use, resulted in product separation and discoloration. Bacterial growth is favoured at neutral pH. Manufacturers of these products should use adequate preservative systems, capable of dealing with contaminants that are likely to gain entrance into the product during the production process or normal use by consumers. Antimicrobials may be applied to the skin in a formulations of shampoos.' http://psrcentre.org/images/extraimages/813505.pdf
'The allergenic role of cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB) in contact dermatitis, including eyelid dermatitis, is well documented in the dermatology literature. Despite widespread use of this surfactant in many cosmetic and self-care products, including some commonly prescribed by ophthalmologists for eyelid hygiene, we found no mention of this allergen in the ophthalmic literature.'