CME: Small mites, big impact: gaps and opportunities in treating Demodex blepharitis
Activity Description / Statement of Need:
In this online, self-learning activity: Blepharitis is a condition characterized by inflammation of the eyelids, resulting in discomfort, redness, irritation, and the appearance of dandruff-like flakes on eyelashes. Demodex blepharitis is a specific subtype of blepharitis, where blepharitis is caused by an overgrowth of Demodex mites, which are normal facial skin flora. In other forms of blepharitis, the etiology may be bacterial colonization, allergies, or seborrheic dermatitis, whereas in Demodex blepharitis, the excessive growth of Demodex folliculorum or Demodex brevis is the driver of inflammation. Research suggests that Demodex blepharitis represents three out of five cases of blepharitis.
Target Audience:
HCPs including but not limited to: ophthalmology; physician assistants and nurse practitioners who practice in ophthalmology; optometrists; and any other HCP with an interest or encounter patients who may have Demodex blepharitis.
Commercial Support Disclosure: This program is supported by an educational grant from Tarsus.
This activity is free of charge.
Release Date: July 17, 2025 -- Expiration Date: July 17, 2027
Faculty: Benjamin Bert, MD
Agenda
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Faculty introduction, disclosures |
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Introductory content · Epidemiology · Risk factors and comorbidities · Clinical features, presentation, and pathophysiology o Demodex folliculorum vs. brevis o Anterior vs. posterior blepharitis o Inflammation · Differential diagnosis, diagnosis, and related challenges |
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Treatment of Demodex blepharitis · Aims of therapy · Management strategies o Terpinen-4-ol o Roles of ivermectin, metronidazole o g-aminobutyric acid-gated chloride channel-directed ectoparasiticide · Ineffective treatments · Challenges to successful Demodex blepharitis treatment and optimal outcomes · Patient case(s) |
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Summary, conclusions, and best practice recap |
Learning Objectives
By the end of the session the participant will be able to:
- Summarize the healthcare burden of Demodex blepharitis and challenges to optimal identification and management.
- Recall best practices and available therapies for the treatment of Demodex blepharitis.
- Formulate a treatment plan for a patient with Demodex blepharitis.
Accreditation
ACCME Activity #203277506
ScientiaCME is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Credit Designation: ScientiaCME designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ toward the AMA Physician's Recognition Award. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Nurses: This activity is designated for up to 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™, and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) accepts AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ to meet the continuing education renewal requirements of nursing re-certification for APRNs and RN specialty. Some state nursing boards accept AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ for re-licensure requirements, some do not. Check your state board of nursing's CE requirements before applying credit from this course to your re-licensure.
Physician Assistants: The American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) accepts AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ assigned by organizations accredited by the ACCME as satisfying Category 1 CME for National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) national certification maintenance. This activity is designated for up to 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™.
Nurse Practitioners: The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB) states that continuing education providers accredited by the ACCME may provide acceptable, accredited Advanced Practice Provider content. This activity is designated for up to 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™.
Faculty Disclosure and Resolution of COI
As a provider of continuing medical education, it is the policy of ScientiaCME to ensure balance, independence, objectivity, and scientific rigor in all of its educational activities. In accordance with this policy, faculty and educational planners must disclose any significant relationships with commercial interests whose products or devices may be mentioned in faculty presentations, and any relationships with the commercial supporter of the activity. The intent of this disclosure is to provide the intended audience with information on which they can make their own judgments. Additionally, in the event a conflict of interest (COI) does exist, it is the policy of ScientiaCME to ensure that the COI is resolved in order to ensure the integrity of the CME activity. For this CME activity, any COI has been resolved thru content review by ScientiaCME.
Disclosures of Faculty: Benjamin Bert, MD, Health Sciences Associate Professor, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, has received financial compensation from Bausch & Lomb for grant/research support.
Disclosures of Educational Planners: Charles Turck, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP, President of ScientiaCME, has no relevant financial disclosures.
Faculty WILL discuss off-label uses of a commercial product.
All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated.
ScientiaCME adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity, including faculty, planners, reviewers or others are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.
Commercial Support Disclosure: This program is supported by an educational grant from Tarsus.
Instructions
- Read the learning objectives above
- Take the Pre-Test (optional). Completion of the pre-test will help us evaluate the knowledge gained by participating in this CME activity.
- View the online activity. You may view this is in more than one session, and may pause or repeat any portion of the presentation if you need to.
- Minimum participation threshold: Take the post-test. A score of 70% or higher is required to pass and proceed to the activity evaluation.
- Complete the activity evaluation and CME registration. A CE certificate will be emailed to you immediately.
System Requirements
Windows 7 or above
Internet Explorer 8
*Adobe Acrobat Reader
Mac OS 10.2.8
Safari or Chrome or Firefox
*Adobe Acrobat Reader
Internet Explorer is not supported on the Macintosh
*Required to view Printable PDF Version
Please take a few minutes to participate in the optional pre-test. It will help us measure the knowledge gained by participating in this activity.
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