title: Effect of Manuka Honey on Eyelid Wound Healing: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report outcomes of a randomized trial on the role of "active" Manuka honey on eyelid surgical wound healing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, randomized, single-blinded study was performed for patients undergoing bilateral upper blepharoplasty. Vaseline was applied 4 times a day to both sides for 6 weeks and in addition, one eyelid was randomized to receive Manuka honey twice daily. Postoperative wounds were graded by a masked observer at 1 week, 1 month, and 4 months using Manchester scar scale and a modified eyelid scar grading scale. Patients scored symptoms, expressed preferred side, and of any problems they experienced using honey. Standard photographs were graded by 2 independent assessors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-five patients were randomized. One week after surgery, 46 (29 women, 17 men, mean age 68 years, median 69, range 49-85) were available for analysis. There was a trend toward distortion of the surrounding skin being less (1.6 vs. 1.8, p = 0.07) and the scar being less palpable (1.8 vs. 2.0, p = 0.08) on the Manuka-treated side. Patients reported the scar on the Manuka side to have less stiffness (1.3 vs. 1.6, p = 0.058). At 1 month, all 3 grading scales showed no difference between the 2 sides. At 4 months, scar grading scales showed no differences; however, patients reported scar pain to be significantly less on the Manuka-treated side than control (0.48 vs. 1.9, p = 0.005). Thirty-one of 46 patients believed the scars were similar on both sides, 11 preferred the honey-treated side, and 4 preferred the control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Upper eyelid scars treated with or without Manuka honey heal well, without significant difference when assessed by validated scar grading scales; however, honey may provide subjective benefits early, postoperatively.
authors.affiliation: Corneoplastic Unit, Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Raman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Malhotra
authors.forename: Kimia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ziahosseini
authors.forename: Cornelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Poitelea
authors.forename: Andre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Litwin
authors.forename: Suresh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sagili
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019882:Blepharoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D001763:Blepharoptosis / Q000601:surgery*; D005143:Eyelids / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006722:Honey; D006801:Humans; D031649:Leptospermum; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*