Expert consensus on eyelid management for dry eye patients in China (2025)

Management of the eyelid margin in dry eye patients plays an important role in dry eye treatment, and eyelid margin management is a long-term, continuous process. Home eyelid management for patients includes eyelid cleaning, cold and hot compresses, demodex removal, etc. In hospital treatment includes physical therapy such as meibomian gland massage, intense pulsed light therapy, thermal/liquid pulsation, photothermal pulsation, and necessary surgical and medication treatment. Providing personalized eyelid management, diagnosis and treatment plans for patients based on comprehensive eyelid margin assessment and diagnosis of eyelid margin diseases is the key to effective treatment. However, in clinical practice, there is no standardized treatment guidance on the indications, treatment timing selection, efficacy evaluation, and final treatment plan determination of different diagnostic and therapeutic methods, which affects the treatment effect and experience of patients. In order to further standardize the physical therapy methods in eyelid management for dry eye patients in China and enhance their awareness of daily eyelid management, the Dry Eye Research Group of the Chinese National Health Association has established an expert group. Based on extensive investigation and careful discussion, combined with the latest research progress in eyelid management, the expert group has jointly formulated the Expert consensus on eyelid management for dry eye patients in China (2025) to provide recommendations for standardized diagnosis and treatment of eyelid management and a basis for the establishment of a standardized model for eyelid management for dry eye patients in China.