The Ultimate Guide to Ocular Rosacea
Do you know that over 3 million Canadians suffer from Rosacea – a chronic inflammatory skin condition? However, most people with Rosacea are frequently unaware that it can also manifest in their eyes. Thus, signs like irritated or dry eyes are usually ignored until they become serious.
As a result, many patients with Rosacea may develop Ocular Rosacea, an inflammation that makes the eyes red, irritated, and itchy. In this guide, you'll learn all about Ocular Rosacea, its causes, symptoms, and the best treatment options.
What is Ocular Rosacea?
Ocular Rosacea is a disorder in which the eyes become red, inflamed, and irritated. It affects most adults with Rosacea between the ages of 30 and 50.
Today, there are many treatment options available to help manage the signs and symptoms. of ocular rosacea, including at home eyelid hygiene and in-office Intense Pulse Light (IPL) treatments.
Symptoms of Ocular Rosacea
Some of the most common symptoms of Ocular Rosacea include:
Dry eyes
Red, burning, or itchy eyes
Swollen eyelids (Blepharitis)
Watery eyes
Blurred vision
Pink eye (conjunctivitis)
Sensitivity to light
Recurrent eye infection
Causes of Ocular Rosacea
Similar to skin rosacea, the exact cause of Ocular Rosacea is unknown. However, many of the following have been linked to rosacea:
Environmental factors
Heredity
Blocked glands in the eyelids
Bacterial involvement (especially that causes digestive infections)
Eyelash mites (tiny spider-like creatures in hair follicles of your face and lashes)
Triggers of Ocular Rosacea
Ocular Rosacea can be worsened by several exact causes that aggravate Skin Rosacea. Some of these include:
Spicy foods: Some hot, spicy, or histamine-rich foods can trigger Ocular Rosacea by causing the blood vessels in the eyes to dilate.
Beverages: Drinking alcohol, particularly red wine
Harsh weather: Exposure to sunlight, wind, or extreme temperatures can cause the eyes to dry, irritated, and red.
Stress: Emotions such as anger or stress can trigger it.
Hot baths: Exposure to hot temperatures, including hot showers and saunas, can cause the blood vessels in the eyes to dilate.
Blepharitis Treatment
Blepharitis is a condition that causes irritated eyelids, which can lead to symptoms like redness, itching, and burning.
Blepharitis treatment typically involves using warm compresses, and eyelid scrubs, avoiding eye makeup and cleaning the eyelids regularly to remove any debris or bacteria contributing to the inflammation.
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Therapy
It is a non-invasive method that uses high-intensity light to lessen inflammation and redness in the eyes. A device emits brief light pulses into the damaged areas during the procedure.
As a result, the light energy is absorbed by the blood vessels, constricting them and lowering inflammation and redness. It is a new, quick, and painless method for treating Ocular Rosacea.
If you wish to expand on Ocular Rosacea you can check our blog ‘Dry Eye: Rosacea’, you can also book a consultation with us by clicking the button below.