Effect of Topical Azithromycin on Tear Film Thickness in Patients With Meibomian Gland Dysfunction

Inclusion Criteria:

• Men and women aged over 18 years

• Signs of meibomian gland plugging or expressibility of the meibomian glands.

• DES most likely caused by MGD, no other cause identifiable which is more likely (e.g. intake of concomitant medication that could induce DES, systemic diseases suchas systemic arthritis or diabetes), as judged by the investigator

• Signed and dated written informed consent.

• History of dry eye syndrome for at least 3 months

• Normal ophthalmic findings except dry eye syndrome and MGD, ametropia < 6 Dpts

• BUT ≤ 10 seconds

Exclusion Criteria:

• Participation in a clinical trial in the 3 weeks before the screening visit

• Symptoms of a clinically relevant illness in the 3 weeks before the first study day

• Presence or history of a severe medical condition that will interfere with the studyaim as judged by the clinical investigator

• Sjögren's syndrome

• Stevens-Johnson syndrome

• Presence or history of a severe ocular condition that will interfere with the studyaim as judged by the clinical investigator

• Treatment with corticosteroids in the 4 weeks preceding the study

• Wearing of contact lenses

• Topical treatment with any ophthalmic drug in the 4 weeks preceding the study excepttopical lubricants Ocular infection

• Ocular surgery in the 6 months preceding the study

• Pregnancy, planned pregnancy or lactating

• Contraindication against the use of topical azithromycin or oral doxycycline