Ocular Rosacea Treatment In Gainesville, FL

If your skin is easily reddened, has a rough texture, and experiences flare-ups with certain triggers, it's likely you have rosacea. Rosacea skin disorder is a chronic condition that causes your face to flush, and, in some people, it can cause their skin to develop acne-like pustules or papules on their cheeks, chin, or nose. Sometimes rosacea affects the eyes. This condition is known as ocular rosacea. Ocular rosacea is a form of rosacea involving the eyelids and the front of the eye, including conditions like blepharitis, conjunctival hyperemia, and rosacea-associated keratitis.

Ocular rosacea has no known cure, but once you identify treatments that can effectively relieve your symptoms and learn your triggers, you can minimize its impact on your life. If you or a loved one suffers from ocular rosacea, our Gainesville, FL, dermatology specialists can help with a wide range of skin conditions. Contact our office today to book an appointment.

What Is Ocular Rosacea?

Ocular rosacea, also sometimes called meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) or subtype 4 rosacea (subtype IV rosacea), is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the eyes and the skin around the eyes. Subtype 4 rosacea is a form of the broader condition rosacea, which affects the skin on the whole face. Ocular rosacea is a long-term disease that has no known cure, but it can be managed with treatments and by avoiding your unique triggers. Individuals with rosacea are often unaware that this condition can also develop in their eyes. As a result, characteristic symptoms from ocular rosacea, like swollen, red eyelids, are often overlooked or misdiagnosed for allergies or issues related to contact lenses.

Ocular rosacea can affect anyone. However, certain individuals are more likely to develop ocular rosacea, including adults 30–50 years old, women and people assigned female at birth, people with light or fair skin, and people from Western European countries, particularly England and Scotland. Ocular rosacea is a relatively common condition. However, even those with early-stage ocular rosacea symptoms or mild symptoms never have their rosacea diagnosed, misdiagnosing their condition for seasonal allergies or issues related to their contact lenses.

Ocular Rosacea Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of ocular rosacea often precede symptoms of general rosacea, though they may also develop at the same time, develop later, or occur on their own. This condition causes symptoms in and around your eyes. The severity of your ocular rosacea may not necessarily always match the severity of your skin symptoms. It might make your eyes and the skin around them feel itchy, irritated, uncomfortable, and painful. Common signs and symptoms of ocular rosacea include the following.

Red, burning, itching, or watery eyes
Dryness of the eyes and surrounding skin
A sensation of grittiness in the eyes
Blurred vision
Sensitivity to light (photophobia)
Small, dilated blood vessels in the eyes
Red, inflamed eyelids

Frequent eye or eyelid infections
Pink eye (conjunctivitis) or blepharitis
Sties or chalazia
Crusty discharge in the eyelashes
Bloodshot eyes
Swelling around the eyes

What Causes Ocular Rosacea?

As with other types of rosacea, the exact cause of ocular rosacea is unknown. It may result from heredity, certain environmental factors, bacterial involvement, blocked eyelid glands, an issue with the circulation that causes the blood vessels to swell, and eyelash mites. It may also be a genetic condition inherited from one or both parents. Some research indicates there may be a link between skin rosacea and Helicobacter pylori bacteria. Helicobacter pylori are the same bacteria that cause gastrointestinal infections.

Ocular Rosacea Triggers

Although the exact cause of ocular rosacea is not yet known, some circumstances and conditions are known to trigger it and its flare-ups. A number of factors that aggravate other types of rosacea can also aggravate ocular rosacea, including the following factors. Your triggers may be unique to your condition. Identifying and avoiding your specific triggers can help relieve your ocular rosacea symptoms.

Spicy or hot foods or beverages
Consumption of alcoholic beverages
Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light
Wind and extreme temperatures
Stress, anger, and embarrassment

Strenuous physical activity
Hot baths, showers, or saunas
Caffeine, chocolate, and cheese
Certain prescription medications

There are certain risk factors associated with ocular rosacea. Ocular rosacea is common in people with other rosacea types, although you may develop ocular rosacea without the skin being involved. Rosacea is more common in women and people assigned female at birth than men and people assigned male at birth, yet ocular rosacea may affect anyone.

How Is Ocular Rosacea Diagnosed?

It is important to consult your doctor if you develop eye issues in order to avoid potential vision problems. Ocular rosacea can affect the cornea (surface of the eye), especially in those with dry eyes, due to the evaporation of natural tears. Corneal issues can result in visual symptoms. Inflammation of the eyelids can result in secondary irritation of the cornea from other complications, such as misdirected eyelashes, potentially ultimately resulting in vision loss.

There are no specific tests or procedures used to diagnose ocular rosacea. In determining whether you have ocular rosacea, your doctor will likely make a diagnosis based on your symptoms, medical history, and a thorough examination of your eyes and eyelids, as well as the skin covering your face. To schedule an appointment with our dermatologists, contact Gainesville Dermatology & Skin Surgery.

How Is Ocular Rosacea Treated?

While there is no known cure for rosacea and ocular rosacea, your doctor can help control and treat its symptoms. In most cases, ocular rosacea can be controlled with medication and at-home eye care, as well as diet and lifestyle habits that avoid triggers.

Prescription Medications

Potential ocular rosacea treatment options include steroid eye drops and ointments to treat eye infections and rosacea affecting the skin around the eyes, prescribed artificial tears to help keep the eyes moist, and eyelid scrubs used to keep the eyes clean and free from infection. Other treatments include warm compresses placed on the eyes during and after bathing, eye drops for ocular rosacea that contain lipids, and doxycycline for ocular rosacea, which is an oral antibiotic. Those with severe cases may need to take an antibiotic for longer.

Skincare For Rosacea

Effectively managing your ocular rosacea symptoms requires a proper skincare regimen, per your dermatologist. As part of your customized, comprehensive treatment plan, your dermatologist will recommend a rosacea-friendly skincare regimen to help facilitate healthy, beautiful skin while helping treat common rosacea signs and symptoms. To help reduce ocular rosacea symptoms, your dermatologist may recommend washing the skin around your eyes with ph-balanced cleansers, avoiding makeup if your eyes are inflamed, avoiding wearing contact lenses during flare-ups and wearing a dermatologist-approved, broad-spectrum sunscreen every day.

Diet & Lifestyle Modifications

Managing your ocular rosacea symptoms primarily requires avoiding triggers. Individuals suffering from ocular rosacea symptoms should avoid foods and drinks that trigger their ocular rosacea, which for most people includes avoiding spicy foods and alcohol. Additionally, you should make certain lifestyle modifications that help you avoid flare-ups from your triggers. Your triggers will be unique to you. Once you successfully identify what can aggravate your ocular rosacea, you can avoid it as much as possible and reduce your recurring symptoms and flare-ups.