Types of Ocular Rosacea - The Dry Eye Syndrome

The dry eye syndrome is an ocular condition that may occur with rosacea. Dye eye syndrome is often treated with non-preserved artificial tears, as often as 4 times a day or more. Keeping the body well hydrated can aid in reducing the occurrence of dye eye syndrome.  Other more drastic ocular treatments may involve closure of the tear drainage ducts, which is accomplished with silicone plugs, which are reversible, or punctal cautery which is a more permanent ocular treatment involving burning of the tear duct openings.

The ocular complications are independent of the severity of facial rosacea.

Ocular Rosacea Statistics

 Ocular rosacea is a condition in which the facial redness of rosacea travels to the eyelids and in some cases the inner eye area itself. Patients with ocular rosacea most commonly experience irritation of the lids and eye, occurring when the oil-producing glands of the lids become obstructed. Signs and symptoms of ocular rosacea can include chronically red eyes and lid margins, irritated eyelids, styes , dry, irritated eyes, burning, and the sensation of a foreign body in the eye. Ocular rosacea may also affect the cornea, causing abnormal blood vessel growth, infections, and occasionally ulcers.

50 to 60 % of facial rosacea sufferers report having ocular rosacea.

Up to 20% of people may only have symptoms of ocular rosacea with no facial rosacea symptoms.

In one study of Drs. Starr and McDonald in 1969, they reported that ocular rosacea symptoms occurred in 58% of patients.

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