Rosacea is a chronic disease that affects the skin. When it affects the skin around the eyes, it is called ocular rosacea. The condition is characterized by redness, pimples, and, in advanced stages, thickened skin. Although rosacea usually affects the face, it can affect other parts of the upper body.
Approximately 14 million people in the United States have rosacea, and it is more common in women (particularly during
menopause) than in men. Although rosacea occurs more frequently in people with fair skin, it can occur in people of any skin color. Despite how common rosacea is, many people with this condition go undiagnosed.
Doctors do not know the exact causes of ocular rosacea. However, some people believe that one or more of the following triggers can make their ocular rosacea worse:
- Heat (including hot baths)
- Heavy exercise
- Sunlight
- Winds
- Very cold temperatures
- Hot or spicy foods and drinks
- Drinking alcohol
- Menopause
- Emotional stress.
In order to diagnose ocular
rosacea, dermatologists need to examine a person's symptoms. However, there are very few people who have all of the symptoms of this disorder, which can make ocular rosacea hard to diagnose. If a patient has family members with the condition, doctors will usually make an ocular rosacea diagnosis, even if there are only a few apparent symptoms.
Up to 50 percent of people who have rosacea will develop ocular rosacea. People with ocular rosacea may have:
- Red, dry, itching, or burning eyes
- Excess tears
- The feeling of having sand in the eye
- Sensitivity to light
- Blurred vision or other vision problems.
- Eyelids that become inflamed and swollen.
In most cases, ocular
rosacea symptoms occur with skin rosacea symptoms. However, in 20 percent of cases, ocular rosacea symptoms occur without skin symptoms.
(Click Rosacea Skin Care for more information about treating the skin.)
Current Treatment for Ocular Rosacea
Although there is no cure for ocular rosacea, it can be treated and controlled. The type of treatment will depend on the symptoms and the severity of the disease.
Oral antibiotics, such as
tetracycline and
doxycycline, are the most common treatments for ocular rosacea. However, people who develop infections of the eyelid must practice frequent eyelid hygiene, which includes scrubbing the eyelids gently with diluted baby shampoo or an over-the-counter eyelid cleaner and applying a warm (but not hot) compress several times a day. In severe cases of ocular rosacea, doctors may prescribe steroid eye drops.
Doctors believe that reducing skin inflammation can help the severity of ocular rosacea. Therefore, a dermatologist (doctor who specializes in the skin) and an ophthalmologist (an eye doctor) will treat people with ocular rosacea.
(Click Rosacea Treatment for more information about treating rosacea symptoms that affect the skin.)
