Rosacea is a common inflammatory skin disease characterized by redness in the face, flushing of the cheeks, and inflamed blood vessels. For up to three in four people with rosacea, the condition can also cause eye-related symptoms, such as dry eyes, itching, and redness.
At Wide Eye Optometry in Encino, Santa Clarita, and Palmdale, California, Mary Demirjian, OD, and our team regularly treat people with ocular rosacea.
Because April is Rosacea Awareness Month, we’re taking a closer look at ocular rosacea and explaining how it can impact your vision and eye health.
Ocular rosacea is a common complication of rosacea, a chronic inflammatory skin condition that causes the skin to become red and irritated. In more than half of people with rosacea, this inflammation extends to the eyes, making it difficult to drive, wear contact lenses, look at electronic screens, or perform other daily tasks.
Sometimes, ocular rosacea occurs alongside skin inflammation; other times, it develops beforehand. Regardless, without prompt treatment and management, research shows that the condition may increase the risk of eye disease, including glaucoma, cataracts, and for those with diabetes, diabetic macular edema.
Since ocular rosacea doesn’t always occur alongside rosacea flares, it can be challenging to identify. Still, several signs can help clue you in, including:
Ocular rosacea affects everyone differently. Whether symptoms are mild or severe, they won’t improve until the underlying inflammation is addressed.
Ocular rosacea isn’t as common as eye diseases like macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, but without treatment, it can increase the risk of severe complications, including ulcers, corneal inflammation, and vision loss.
If you develop any symptoms, don’t wait to contact us. Routine eye exams can identify the underlying cause and, if you have ocular rosacea, prevent the condition from worsening.
Treatment of ocular rosacea typically includes a combination of prescription medication, lifestyle changes, and care coordination. Depending on your symptoms and their severity, we may recommend:
Ocular rosacea often causes puffy eyelids in addition to red, itchy eyes. Applying a warm compress to your eyes for 10 minutes twice daily can reduce some of that swelling and support healthy tear production.
Many people with ocular rosacea also have dry eyes. If warm compresses don’t provide adequate relief, we may recommend prescription or over-the-counter eye drops to ease dryness and gritty sensations.
Prescription oral antibiotics, such as tetracycline, offer a safe, effective way to reduce rosacea-related inflammation. A course of antibiotics can make it easier to blink and see comfortably.
Since rosacea can affect your eyes and skin, we typically recommend coordinating care with your dermatologist. Regular communication between our office and your skin doctor can increase the efficacy of treatment and keep flare-ups to a minimum.
If ocular rosacea is affecting your vision and quality of life, don’t wait to take action. Following a discussion of your symptoms and a comprehensive eye exam, we can make custom treatment recommendations.
To get started, schedule an appointment at your nearest Wide Eye Optometry office in Encino, Santa Clarita, or Palmdale, California, today.