Chronic Inflammation around the Face and Eye
Ocular rosacea is a chronic inflammation that affects the eyes and the surrounding skin. It can also extend to your entire face, forehead, cheeks, and chest area. The condition can affect your ocular health, comfort, and appearance. Our optometrist at Stone Canyon Eye Care in St. George, UT, can help treat ocular rosacea. Keep reading to familiarize yourself with the condition and the treatment methods used.
Symptoms
Symptoms of ocular rosacea can include:
- Blurred vision
- Swollen, red eyelids
- Light sensitivity (photophobia)
- Red, itchy, burning, or watery eyes
- Dilated small blood vessels on the sclera
- Grittiness or the feeling of having a foreign item on your eye(s)
- Eye infections like pink eye (conjunctivitis), blepharitis, and chalazia
When to See Your Eye Doctor
Visit your optometrist as soon as possible, if you experience rosacea symptoms around your eyes. Moreover, remember to visit your eye doctor periodically if you’ve been diagnosed with skin rosacea. If left untreated, ocular rosacea may lead to severe medical complications like blepharitis, or chronic dry eyes, which can damage your cornea permanently.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Ocular rosacea is incurable, but it can be controlled. For skin symptoms, an optometrist can prescribe either a topical skin antibiotic or, in severe cases, an oral antibiotic. Tetracycline (or doxycycline) is an antibiotic that can be prescribed for patients with ocular rosacea.
It possesses both antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Oil glands mainly absorb this class of antibiotics. That’s why doxycycline is particularly effective for teen acne, blepharitis, and acne rosacea.
In addition, we use artificial tear-type saline solutions to manage ocular rosacea. The solutions help alleviate some symptoms by keeping your eyes well-moisturized.
We also recommend patients with ocular rosacea make a few lifestyle changes because some activities can aggravate the condition. Activities that worsen ocular rosacea include:
- Drinking alcohol
- Undergoing emotional and physical stress
- Consuming spicy or hot foods and beverages
- Exposing your skin to extremely hot or cold temperatures
Contact Our Optometrist at Stone Canyon Eye Care in St. George, UT, for Ocular Rosacea Treatment
If left untreated, ocular rosacea can cause vision loss! Having vision loss can lead to social isolation, loneliness, and feelings of anxiety, fear, and worry. Fortunately, at Stone Canyon Eye Care in St. George, UT, we can help treat and control the condition to save your eyesight. Contact us today at 435-359-2020 for more information on ocular rosacea treatment options and our general eye care services.