Rosacea may be best known for causing redness and flushing of the skin, but it can also affect the eyes and eyelids. This is known as ocular rosacea.
Ocular rosacea can contribute to burning, redness, watering, irritation, blurry vision, and problems with the oil-producing glands in the eyelids. Because these symptoms overlap with dry eye, blepharitis, and meibomian gland dysfunction, a closer evaluation can help determine what may be contributing to your discomfort.
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Ocular rosacea is an inflammatory condition associated with rosacea that affects the eyes, eyelids, or both. It may cause inflammation along the eyelid margins and affect the meibomian glands, which produce the oils that help keep tears from evaporating too quickly.
Some people with ocular rosacea already know they have facial rosacea. Others may notice eye symptoms before skin changes become obvious.
Ocular rosacea symptoms can vary from person to person and may resemble other forms of dry eye or eyelid inflammation. Symptoms may include:
Rosacea involves inflammation, which can extend to the eyelids and ocular surface. When the eyelid margins become inflamed, the meibomian glands may also be affected. These small glands release oils that form the outer layer of the tear film and help slow evaporation.
Changes in gland function can make the tear film less stable. This may lead to faster evaporation, irritation, and dry eye symptoms.
Blepharitis refers to inflammation along the eyelid margins. Ocular rosacea can contribute to this inflammation. Someone with ocular rosacea may therefore have signs of blepharitis as part of the larger condition.
Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) occurs when the oil-producing glands within the eyelids do not release enough healthy oil. Inflammation associated with ocular rosacea may affect these glands and contribute to tear evaporation.
Ocular rosacea treatment depends on which parts of the eyes and eyelids are affected and whether dry eye, blepharitis, or meibomian gland dysfunction is present at the same time.
When eyelid inflammation or blepharitis is part of the picture, treatment may focus on keeping the eyelid margins clean and reducing contributing buildup. NuVision Centers offers BlephEx® for appropriate patients when deeper in-office cleaning of the eyelid margins is recommended.
When ocular rosacea is associated with meibomian gland dysfunction or inflammation, treatment may also need to address the oil glands within the eyelids. NuVision Centers offers OptiLight® IPL and TempSure® Envi radiofrequency for appropriate dry eye and MGD patients based on their diagnostic findings.
Prescription treatments may also play a role. The right combination depends on what your eye doctor finds. Ocular rosacea is not treated with one standard plan for every patient.
Recurring redness, burning, watering, grittiness, or eyelid irritation may have more than one explanation. If rosacea, dry eye, blepharitis, or MGD may be contributing, a comprehensive evaluation can help separate the overlapping pieces. At our Dry Eye Centre in Scottsdale, we examine your eyelids, tear film, eye surface, and meibomian glands, explain what the findings mean and which next steps may make sense for you.