Selenium (Selsun) in the Treatment of Marginal Blepharitis

Interventions for chronic blepharitis

“…One study compared combination topical antibiotic and corticosteroid with another combination of topical antibiotic and corticosteroid (White 2008). Three other studies investigated drug interventions: Nelson 1990 and Wong 1956 compared topical antifungal drugs with placebo and the same dose of topical antibacterial agent, respectively, and Collum 1984 compared a topical anti-inflammatory agent with placebo. The three remaining studies evaluated lid hygiene interventions: two studies (Key 1996; Wasserman 1989) compared different types of lid scrub regimens with/without compresses and Sore 2002 compared astringent compresses with selenium compresses.…”

“…In the first and third phases of the study all participants received placebo, and in the second and fourth phases of the study, participants received one of three active-treatment regimens. Thus, active treatments were not compared concurrently with placebo for this studyin four studies (12%), the unit of analysis (each eye per individual) differed from the unit of randomization (the individual) (Goto 2002; Luchs 2008; Macsai 2008; Wong 1956). In another study the unit of analysis was unclear (Sore 2002)…”

“…in four studies (12%), the unit of analysis (each eye per individual) differed from the unit of randomization (the individual) (Goto 2002; Luchs 2008; Macsai 2008; Wong 1956). In another study the unit of analysis was unclear (Sore 2002)…”

“…One RCT compared selenium sulfide ophthalmic ointment (antifungal) with ammoniated mercury ophthalmic ointment (antibiotic) for the treatment of marginal blepharitis (Wong 1956). The study period was six weeks, including four weeks of treatment and two weeks of post-treatment follow-up.…”

Current and Emerging Therapeutic Strategies for the Treatment of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD)

“…He went on to report 40 cases of marginal blepharitis of varying severity, of which 92 % had cleared with various combination of selenium sulfide ophthalmic ointment [4]. Two years later, Andrew Wong et al [5] studied 59 patients, of whom 38 received 0.5 % selenium sulfide ophthalmic ointment while 21 were given a control of ammoniated mercury (5 %). There was no significant difference between selenium-treated and control patients.…”