Ocular Rosacea Treatment
Ocular rosacea is a serious form of rosacea that affects the eyes. Left untreated, it can cause eye infections, pink eye, chronic dry eyes, permanent damage to the eyes, and even blindness. Doctors often have difficulty diagnosing the condition, especially if there are few other common symptoms of rosacea such as redness and pimples. Normal rosacea affects the skin, but once it travels to the eye region, it is important to quickly managing the symptoms. Some of the side effects of ocular rosacea are an itching or burning feeling in the eyes, swollen eyelids, or sensitivity to light. The first method of defense is arresting the symptoms of rosacea prior to the condition moving into the area around the eyes. Eating healthier combined with skin care and an exercise regimen can help considerably. Just like with any diet, stay away from foods high in sugar and salt. Reduce the amount of fatty foods and spicy foods. Replace eating junk food as a snack to a healthy piece of fruit. And be sure to eat your veggies, too! Add some antioxidants and vitamins, along with exercise, and you should keep the rosacea from spreading and keep the symptoms in check. There are also topical solutions, laser treatments, and ointments which can reduce the symptoms. Once the rosacea has begun to affect the eyes, treatments should be centered around alleviating pain and preventing ocular damage. Soaking the eyes in warm water and washing out the inside of the eyelids may provide relief. Eye drop medications such as Visine or Clear Eyes may also help with the itchy, burning feeling. Your ophthalmologist will likely prescribe antibiotics. Tetracyclines like minocycline and doxycycline are the most commonly prescribed. If the situation is severe enough, he or she may recommend systemic therapy and even a closure of the tear duct openings. This is accomplished through either a temporary closure or a more permanent one. People with ocular rosacea often suffer from dehydration and should increase their intake of fluids. Water, vegetable juice, and fruit juice are all good options. Another form of treatment include getting a humidifier. A humidifier will add moisture into the air. There is no cure for rosacea, and there is no one universal treatment. The key is to keep the eyes comfortable and the symptoms from getting worse and worse. Even more important is recognizing the symptoms and getting it properly diagnosed from the start.
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