Rosacea and its ocular manifestations

BACKGROUND: Rosacea is a chronic condition affecting the facial and ocular surface tissues. It is historically underdiagnosed and affects people of all ethnicities. The exact pathophysiology of rosacea is poorly understood. A variety of medical therapies are available to treat the various signs and symptoms of rosacea. Currently, there is no cure for the condition. METHODS: This report is a literature review. RESULTS: The clinical manifestations of rosacea are diverse, with periods of exacerbation and remission. Many short- and long-term treatments are available to alleviate the symptoms and effects of rosacea. Variations are common in the medications used, dosages, and durations of treatment. Current topical, oral, and surgical treatment options are presented and reviewed. As a chronic condition, rosacea treatment should be tailored toward individuals and adjusted over time. CONCLUSIONS: Subtle presentations of rosacea may be overlooked by health care providers. When treating the condition, certain individuals may require both systemic and topical therapy to effectively control rosacea outbreaks. Eye care professionals need to be aware of the presence of rosacea to appropriately treat ocular surface disease that is not responding as expected to standard topical therapy. Severe facial and ocular surface damage caused by rosacea may need surgical intervention. Specific treatment protocols are elusive because of the diversity of the disease. Additional research is needed to find the exact cause of rosacea to more effectively manage the dermatologic and ocular manifestations of the disease and to find a cure. Optometry 2011;82:92-103