A Prospective Clinical Study Assessing the Effects of Tetracycline Antibiotic on Tear Film and Tear Lipid Composition Within a Population of Patients Diagnosed With Blepharitis and Dry Eye Disease

Inclusion Criteria: Patients over 18 years of age, patient willing and able to comply with the protocol. Insidious onset and greater than three month's duration of ocular symptoms consistent with dry eye and meibomian gland disease. Ocular surface vital staining consistent with aqueous deficient dry eyes with less than +1 conjunctival injection and no more than minimal lid inflammation. Normal controls will also be tested for this trial.

Exclusion Criteria: Any patient with punctual occlusion or punctual plugs within the past 2 months. Patients with active ocular infection or inflammatory disease, history of herpetic keratitis, history of retinal detachment, concurrent contact lens use during the trial period, ocular surgery within the past six months, patients with glaucoma, anterior membrane dystrophy, active trichiasis or any eyelid globe malposition abnormality, e.g., entropion, ectropion, etc. Patients with epiphora (excessive tearing). Moreover, patients taking medications known to effect aqueous tear production or meibomian secretions or use of tetracycline or tetracycline analogs for treatment of other medical conditions within the past 3 months. Patient must not have participated in (or be currently participating in) any investigational therapeutic drug or device trial within the previous 30 days prior to their start date for this trial. In addition, any patient suffering from organic brain syndromes or major psychiatric disorder that would interfere with compliance or subjective reporting will be discouraged from participating in this trial.