Ocular Rosacea Treated by a Sacramento, CA, Optometrist

When you hear the term "rosacea," you probably instantly think about a person with a red rash on their face. But, sometimes, the symptoms of rosacea can also affect the eyes. In fact, it may be the first sign of this condition. And in some people without facial rosacea, ocular rosacea occurs. So, what's this issue? Let Arena Eye Care Optometry, serving Sacramento, CA, and the nearby region, explain. 

General Information 

Ocular rosacea causes burning, watering, redness, and itching in the eye. If you flush easily or blush, you may be more at risk of this condition. You're most likely for it to occur if you're between the ages of 30 and 50. 

Symptoms 

Dry eye is a common symptom of ocular rosacea. You may feel like you have a foreign object in your eye frequently, or your eyes may feel gritty. You may notice tiny blood vessels present in the white portion of your eye (sclera)or along the edges of your eyelids. Besides the discomfort you feel and the appearance of your eye, it can cause blurred vision and light sensitivity. 

For some people, recurring eyelid and eye infections may occur. For instance, you may notice you continue to get bacteria or viral pink eye or styes. Keep in mind that your flare-ups for ocular rosacea and rosacea on your face may not occur at the same time. 

Causes 

Heredity is one of the main reasons you'll develop this type of rosacea. You could also experience due to environmental factors, blocked glands, or eyelash mites.  

Certain factors may cause you to experience flares of ocular rosacea, such as consuming spicy foods or exposure to sunlight or extreme cold. For some, the symptoms may arise whenever they have emotional stress or participate in strenuous exercise. 

Some types of bacteria may lead to it, too. 

Diagnosis and Treatment 

One of our optometrists, Dr. Krister L. Holmberg or Dr. Shephali Patel, will assess your eyes. They’ll also speak with you about your medical history and symptoms. Through this information, our optometrist can determine if you have it and determine an appropriate treatment approach. or use the online scheduler on our website.

Our eye doctor may prescribe a medication to manage the condition and advise you to manage it at home since it's a chronic issue. For instance, we'll recommend you avoid wearing makeup during flares. 

On the other hand, if your ocular rosacea is from a bacterial infection, we'll target it using an antibiotic to combat it.

A powerful option to deal with ocular and facial rosacea is IPL. A series of Intense Pulsed Light is shown on your skin, which causes the blood vessels and inflammation to decrease and ultimately disappear.

Quality Vision Care in Sacramento

Arena Eye Care Optometry, serving Sacramento, CA, and the local neighborhoods, sees patients who suffer from ocular rosacea. We encourage you not to suffer in silence. Give us a call at (916) 419-8167 to learn more and schedule an eye exam.  You can also use the online scheduler on our website.