This article is sponsored by XDEMVY. Dr. Watson is a paid consultant for Tarsus Pharmaceuticals.
As a longtime allergy sufferer, Fernanda was no stranger to itchy, red eyes. Usually, she’d just push through the irritation until it subsided, determined to go about her normal life — working, studying and hanging out with her friends. But in this most recent spell of eyelid irritation, her symptoms weren’t going away.
“I stopped wearing eye makeup as much as I did before,” she says. “I felt embarrassed to go out with my friends, because my eyelids were red and swollen.” Sometimes they’d become so irritated that she couldn’t put in her contact lenses and she was self-conscious when she left the house or went to work. But still — believing this was normal — she figured the issues would eventually fade.
Things took a turn when Fernanda went on vacation and experienced a particularly bad flare-up of redness, crusting and inflammation — the experience was severe enough that she went to an urgent-care provider who recommended that she immediately see an eye care provider.
A Proper Diagnosis
Fernanda’s eye doctor performed a routine eye exam using a slit lamp, a big microscope that allows a doctor to examine the inside and outside of the eye. The result: She was diagnosed with Demodex blepharitis, a common eyelid disease caused by an overpopulation of Demodex mites, microscopic critters that live in or near human hair follicles such as eyelashes, feeding on skin cells and sebum (oil).
While common, these mites can become irritating “when they overpopulate in and around the eyelids, which can often lead to Demodex blepharitis,” says Dr. Caroline Watson, a Cataract, Cornea and Refractive Surgeon, and Ophthalmologist. The disease affects about 25 million eye care patients in the United States — one out of every 12 adults. And since “the disease often mirrors other ocular conditions, it is often underdiagnosed,” says Dr. Watson.
For eye care providers, the telltale sign of Demodex blepharitis is the presence of crusty debris called collarettes. “[These are] debris of mite waste products and eggs found at the base of the eyelashes,” Dr. Watson says. “When I see collarettes on my patients’ eyelids, I know they have the disease — 100% of patients with collarettes have Demodex blepharitis.”
“I had never heard about Demodex blepharitis before, but getting a diagnosis was a relief,” says Fernanda. “I was happy to finally understand what was causing this irritation and know that there was a solution.” From there, she could focus on finding a treatment that worked for her.
A Solution to Target the Root Cause
Until recently, patients often relied on lid hygiene treatments, such as warm compresses or eyelid scrubs/wipes, designed to rid the lids of the debris. “None of those options get to the root cause of the disease, though: the mites themselves,” says Dr. Watson. Fortunately, in July 2023, XDEMVY® (lotilaner ophthalmic solution) 0.25% was FDA approved — making it the first and only FDA approved treatment for this significant patient population. “It’s the only one that directly targets and eradicates the mites,” Dr. Watson continues.
XDEMVY is a prescription eye drop taken twice a day in each eye for six weeks. In two combined studies, 50 percent of people who used the lotilaner solution saw a decline in the number of collarettes (≤2) on their eyelashes and 60 percent experienced a complete eradication of their Demodex mites after 43 days of treatment.
For Fernanda, it finally allowed her to treat her disease and experience relief. “After my eye-care provider told me I had Demodex blepharitis, he told me about XDEMVY,” she recalls, adding that soon after it was prescribed, she noticed an improvement in her symptoms. “My eyelids feel so much better,” she says. “I no longer notice the itching or redness, and I can wear makeup and keep my contact lenses in for longer periods of time.”
Now, for others experiencing eye irritation, Fernanda emphasizes the importance of seeing a doctor to receive an accurate diagnosis. “The biggest piece of advice I would give is: Don't wait to see an eye-care provider,” she says. “Get checked out, because if you’re diagnosed with Demodex blepharitis, there's a treatment out there for you.”
Indications and Usage
XDEMVY (lotilaner ophthalmic solution) 0.25% is indicated for the treatment of Demodex blepharitis.
Important Safety Information
Most common side effects: The most common side effect in clinical trials was stinging and burning in 10% of patients. Other side effects in less than 2% of patients were chalazion/hordeolum and punctate keratitis.
Handling the Container: Avoid allowing the tip of the dispensing container to contact the eye, surrounding structures, fingers, or any other surface in order to minimize contamination of the solution. Serious damage to the eye and subsequent loss of vision may result from using contaminated solutions.
When to Seek Physician Advice: Immediately seek a physician’s advice concerning the continued use of XDEMVY if you develop an intercurrent ocular condition (e.g., trauma or infection), have ocular surgery, or develop any ocular reactions, particularly conjunctivitis and eyelid reactions.
Use with Contact Lenses: XDEMVY contains potassium sorbate, which may discolor soft contact lenses. Contact lenses should be removed prior to instillation of XDEMVY and may be reinserted 15 minutes following its administration.
To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Tarsus Pharmaceuticals at 1-888-421-4002 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
Please see full Prescribing Information available at XDEMVY.com.
