Multidisciplinary perspectives in blepharitis: A new view of treatment from clinical, payer, and patient perspectives.

infestation is the cause of more than two-thirds of all cases of blepharitis in the United States. Although symptoms may include crustiness, redness, or itching of the eyelids, diagnosis can be accomplished through a simple examination of the eyelashes. The presence of a waste product of the mite, known as collarettes, on the base of the eyelashes is a pathognomonic sign of blepharitis. infestation that results in blepharitis may cause blockage and ultimately atrophy of the meibomian glands, worsening dry eye disease. Until recently, management of blepharitis has been limited by a lack of approved therapy options. Lotilaner ophthalmic solution 0.25%, the first approved therapy for treatment of blepharitis, has not only been shown to eradicate mites in one-half to two-thirds of patients following short-term treatment but also demonstrated continued benefits through 1 year of follow-up. In addition to managing blepharitis, treatment with lotilaner ophthalmic solution 0.25% may aid in the management of dry eye disease and other forms of ocular surface disease caused by complications of infestation. As a result, it is possible that successful management of blepharitis may reduce chronic use of health care resources dedicated to managing other chronic ocular conditions. As eye care professionals recognize infestation as a key mediator of ocular surface disease, increasing diagnostic awareness and addressing this underlying cause of blepharitis may reduce the need for specialist follow-up care, decrease the need for chronic therapy, and improve patient outcomes. Through routine screening for infestation and blepharitis, eye care professionals can now address an underlying factor in ocular surface disease to improve use of health care resources in the community.