What is Ocular Rosacea?
Everyone seems to have heard of rosacea, whether through terrifying themselves with a WebMD search or by hearing a doctor diagnose them with the condition. But while this skin condition continues to gain recognition in the public conscious, one kind of rosacea is less present in general knowledge. Ocular rosacea is equally (if not more of) a nuisance, but few seem to know about it. To protect oneself, it is important to learn exactly how it happens, as well as the steps you need to take to remedy it. The disease might sound scary, but once diagnosed, it is easy to cure. Everything you need to know about ocular rosacea is right here.
What Is It?
This form of rosacea is an inflammation of the eye. Many people who already have skin rosacea can be at risk for picking up ocular rosacea, and skin flare ups can coincide with those in the eyes. This type of rosacea is primarily found in adults between age 30 and 60, and is especially common in fair skinned individuals.
Common Symptoms of Ocular Rosacea
The most frequently reported signs of ocular rosacea include dryness, stinging and burning in the eyes. A gritty feeling, or that of feeling like a foreign object is embedded in the eye, has also been reported in patients. Besides ocular discomfort, blurred vision and sensitivity to light have also been reported in those who suffer from ocular rosacea. Extreme cases include visible dilation of small blood vessels around the white of the eye, along with sties in the eye and tearing. A flare up of ocular rosacea does not always match the severity of the skin condition.
Wondering when to contact your doctor about this possible condition? If you have been diagnosed previously with skin rosacea, you should call your doctor immediately, or do so if you find the symptoms lasting longer than a few hours
Causes of the Condition
The causes of ocular rosacea are largely unknown by medical professionals, but doctors have not ruled out hereditary and environmental elements as potential causes. There are a number of activities that can make rosacea feel worse, and thus aggravate ocular rosacea as well.
These activities include but are not limited to eating spicy foods, hot drinks, or alcohol, as well as being in extreme heat or coldness for a significant length of time. Stress can also exacerbate the condition, as can too much strenuous exercise, and even a hot bath or long stretch in a steam room. If you are sensitive to these types of activities, be wary before partaking in them.
Defining a Diagnosis, and How to Treat It
While there is no specific test for pinpointing ocular rosacea, doctors commonly can assess your condition by reviewing symptoms, looking over medical histories, and taking a thorough look at the area in and around your eyes.
If it turns out that you do suffer from the condition, there are a number of various therapies and treatments that can be prescribed. More often than not, you will be prescribed an oral antibiotic like doxycycline or tetracycline (also known as Minocin and Dynacin, among others). For more severe cases, you may be prescribed minocycline or erythromyclin.
Before dabbling in these antibiotics, you may want to look into artificial tears. These can help fight the redness and dryness, although in some cases (depending on allergies) they can make the redness even worse.
Ocular Rosacea Prevention
Complete prevention of this condition is as yet impossible, since the cause of it is as yet unknown. However, there are several solid ways you can take control in avoiding chronic eye irritation. If you have already been diagnosed with ocular rosacea, continue on your doctor’s recommended treatment plan, which often includes cleansing your eyes every day. Additionally, continue staying away from anything that could trigger about of redness, like hot foods, sun exposure and (shocker) anxiety.
Remedies You Can Try at Home
As said earlier, daily washing of your eyes is an extremely effective way to prevent a flare up of this kind of rosacea. Your doctor may even recommend a specific cleansing product for these purposes. For those who wear contact lenses, general wear is discouraged during a flare up, and without proper maintenance, these could be the very cause for one.
Potential Risk Factors
Simply put, if you have ever developed skin rosacea, you are at an exponentially higher risk of ocular rosacea than someone who has not. Skin rosacea tends to be more common in women than men, but its ocular equivalent has an equal chance of affecting either sex. Unfortunately, there is no way to predict who could develop ocular symptoms among rosacea sufferers, but there are several tell tale signs that could suggest an early affliction with the disease.
Warning Signs
A clear sign one may be infected with ocular rosacea is in the development of sties, or painful bumpy red patches near the edge of the eye. Women going through menopause, those who have light or fair skin, and anyone who has a hereditary history of rosacea could have a higher likelihood of contracting the condition than those who do not. Think you may be suffering from one of these sties, or fear you could be at risk for developing this condition? Before you look into any methods of curing this, make sure to speak with your doctor or other medical practitioner first.
Ocular rosacea may not be especially pleasant, particularly in the middle of a flare up, but if you are one of the many people affected by it in the country, do not lose hope. There are plenty of ways to treat this commonly found condition. Many people find as soon as they speak with their doctor and find a way to keep the condition under control, they find their regimes extremely easy to maintain. Don’t put up with ocular rosacea for another moment. Speak with your doctor today.
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