It may be time for eye drops for Ocular Rosacea. Have you ever had that feeling where you have something in your eye but when you try to remove it nothing is there? Have you already been diagnosed with Rosacea? If you answered “yes” to both these questions, chances are it has spread to your eye(s). If you are not sure, you should make an appointment with your Dermatologist or Ophthalmologist. Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that causes redness, irritation and perhaps pimples on the face, neck, chest, ears and scalp. It can also spread to the eyes and, if left untreated, can have long-term consequences.
Symptoms generally consist of redness, irritation or burning of the eyes and the above-mentioned invisible eyelash. Treatment for patients suffering from this condition can be treated with warm compresses, artificial tears and metronidazole gel, an antibiotic specifically applied to the eyelids. Oral antibiotics may also be prescribed. There is some credence given to the idea that a person’s diet may come into play, so by eliminating gluten, caffeine, spicy foods or alcoholic drinks it may reduce their symptoms.
In addition to eye drops for Ocular Rosacea, treatment may consist of getting rid of contact lenses and switching back to glasses. If the Ocular Rosacea is mild, it usually clears with eyelid hygiene and using the prescribed eye drops for Ocular Rosacea. Over-the-counter artificial tears have been used for chronic management of dry-eye, which is a major symptom of the condition. Using drops provides temporary relief but fails to address the underlying pathology itself.
A more aggressive approach would be to use a fairly new prescription eye drop called Restasis. This eye drop improves tear production and is the first approved therapeutic medicine for the treatment of chronic dry eye. Cost would be a definite factor to consider when asking for a prescription as the drug is quite spendy. It also takes constant use over a period of weeks for the drug to become effective. Its application is cumulative and needs to build up in the patient’s system over time but it has been proven to be very effective in most cases.
As with most medications there are side affects, but for the most part they are minor. Eye irritation, temporary blurred vision, halos when staring at lights, or watery eye are just a few less common symptoms.
Symptoms for Ocular Rosacea may become worse during certain seasons. There are steps a patient should take to prevent the condition from getting worse. For instance they should wear glasses when in a windy situation to protect their eyes from the elements. Keeping the eyes lubricated with artificial tears is a must. Practicing hygiene on the eyes can really help by washing their eyelids daily with baby shampoo and a warm washcloth. If the patient’s case is more sever, maintaining strict discipline when taking prescribed medication is necessary to prevent further complications and possible long-term eye damage.
The treatments mentioned in this article are effective in minimizing the symptoms and can improve both the visual look of your eyes and improve your eye sight as well. But the cause of Rosacea is unknown so there is no cure only treatment of the symptoms. The good news is most conditions are mild and can be treated using over-the-counter methods.
