Summary
Aim of the study. To review the latest scientific literature on the use of the immunomodulatory properties of doxycycline in ophthalmology and systematize the data on its clinical efficacy.
Methods. A systematic literature review was conducted using the PubMed and ScienceDirect databases, with additional sources identified through Google Scholar. Studies published in English and Lithuanian between 2015 and 2025 were included in the analysis. The keywords “doxycycline” and “ophthalmology” were used for data retrieval. Only human studies published in English with full-text availability were included. Of the 257 results obtained, 19 sources were selected for the final analysis (11 clinical studies, 6 case reports, and 2 systematic reviews/meta-analyses).
Results. Doxycycline is a tetracycline-class antibiotic that exhibits immunomodulatory properties. Based on the reviewed studies, doxycycline is an effective agent in the treatment of ocular rosacea and Meibomian gland dysfunction. The literature also reports its effectiveness in the treatment of endocrine ophthalmopathy and recurrent corneal erosion, in the management of exudative age-related macular degeneration in combination with vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors, as well as its use as a sclerosing agent in the treatment of periorbital lymphatic malformations.
Conclusions. Doxycycline, due to its immunomodulatory properties, is used in the treatment of ocular rosacea and Meibomian gland dysfunction. Doxycycline may also be effective in the treatment of recurrent corneal erosion, endocrine ophthalmopathy, the exudative form of age-related macular degeneration, and periorbital lymphatic malformations.
