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Blepharitis - Management
Which topical antibiotic should I prescribe?
- Topical chloramphenicol eye ointment is preferred unless:
- Other eye drops are being used concurrently (e.g. for glaucoma).
- Topical chloramphenicol is contraindicated (see Prescribing topical antibiotics).
- There is a coexisting disorder affecting the cornea (e.g. conjunctivitis).
- The person wears contact lenses. Ideally, these should not be worn during treatment, but if the person cannot avoid wearing them, consider prescribing preservative-free chloramphenicol eye drops (some preservatives, such as benzalkonium chloride, accumulate in soft contact lenses, and may cause irritation).
- If topical chloramphenicol ointment is unsuitable, consider prescribing chloramphenicol or fusidic acid eye drops. However, these may be less effective, as they will be in contact with the lid margin for less time.
[American Optometric Association, 2002; American Academy of Ophthalmology, 2003]
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