A new survey by the National Rosacea Society suggests
that common symptoms known as ocular rosacea, which
can cause irritation or redness in the eyes of rosacea
patients, may be significantly underdiagnosed.
Out of 1,780 rosacea sufferers reporting ocular
symptoms, 86 percent said their eyes had appeared
watery or bloodshot and 95 percent said their eyes
had felt dry, gritty or
irritated. Of those with watery or bloodshot eyes,
only 29 percent said they had been diagnosed with
ocular rosacea. Of those experiencing dryness, grittiness
or irritation, only 28 percent said they had been
diagnosed.
One of the reasons ocular rosacea may often go undetected
is the fact that these symptoms tend to develop separately
from the facial symptoms of the disorder. Thirty-eight
percent of the survey respondents said their ocular
symptoms developed after their facial symptoms, while
17 percent said they occurred before. Only 15 percent
said eye and facial symptoms appeared at the same
time. and 22 percent were unsure.
"Many people may not connect their eye symptoms
with a skin disorder, and sometimes an ophthalmologist
will be the first one to notice rosacea and point
the patient to a dermatologist," said Dr. Guy
Webster, associate professor of dermatology at Thomas
Jefferson University Medical College in Philadelphia. "Ocular
rosacea may be far more common than is generally
recognized, and in clinical studies it has occurred
in as many as 58 percent of rosacea patients."
The symptoms of ocular rosacea are
often mild, and may be considered minor annoyances
by many patients. Some patients, however, feel as
though there is an eyelash or something gritty or
foreign in their eye. In severe cases, ocular rosacea
may include swollen blood vessels, inflammation of the eye or eyelid, irritation
or scaling of the mucous membrane, and in rare instances even impairment of
vision.
The good news is that medical therapy
appears to be widely effective in improving the symptoms.
Of the survey respondents who had been diagnosed
with ocular rosacea, 88 percent said they had received
treatment, and 90 percent of those treated said their
condition had improved.
Once diagnosed, a physician will usually
prescribe a combination of treatments for ocular
rosacea tailored to the individual. This may include
local and systemic therapy, as well as cleansing
and tearing agents, all of which may be adjusted
over time.
Source: Rosacea
Review, Winter 2001
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