Symptoms
Eye rosacea
Ocular rosacea primarily affects the eyelids and the anterior segment of the eye. The symptoms can vary in severity and may include:
- Eyelid Involvement: Inflammation and swelling of the eyelids (blepharitis), characterized by redness, dilated blood vessels, and scaly debris at the base of the eyelashes. This can lead to loss of eyelashes (madarosis) or misdirected eyelashes.
- Conjunctival Symptoms: Redness and bloodshot eyes (conjunctival hyperemia), often accompanied by a sensation of grittiness or having a foreign body in the eye.
- Corneal Symptoms: Inflammation of the cornea (keratitis), which can present with superficial punctate erosions, increased blood vessels, opacities, and recurrent corneal ulcers. Severe cases can result in corneal thinning, increased opacity, and vessel invasion, potentially leading to vision loss.
- Other Symptoms: Itching, burning, dry eyes, watery eyes (excessive tearing), crusty discharge in the eyelashes, recurrent styes or chalazia, and sensitivity to light (photophobia).
In individuals with darker skin tones, the hallmark redness of rosacea may be less noticeable. Instead, symptoms may include a warm or hot feeling around the eyes and darker brown discoloration around the eyes compared to the usual skin tone.
‹‹Previous (Overview) Next (Causes)››
