Elsevier

The Ocular Surface

Volume 3, Issue 1, January 2005, Pages 41-58
The Ocular Surface

Clinical Practice
John E. Sutphin, MD, section editor
Ocular Rosacea

https://doi.org/10.1016/S1542-0124(12)70121-0Get rights and content

Abstract

Rosacea is a common skin disease that frequently involves the eye. Although the pathogenesis of the disease remains undefined, recent findings suggest that an altered inflammatory response plays an important role in both cutaneous and ocular rosacea. Ocular manifestations include lid and ocular surface alterations. Chronic inflammation can lead to corneal vascularization, which may compromise vision. Treatment of ocular rosacea is aimed at preventing irritation of the ocular surface (e.g., lubricants, lid hygiene) and controlling inflammation with topical and systemic anti-inflammatory drugs. Systemic tetracyclines are the mainstay of treatment. These drugs act multifactorially by decreasing bacterial flora and the expression of matrix metalloproteinases, altering meibum secretion, inhibiting the production of bacterial lipases, and providing an immunomodulatory effect.

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    Supported in part by an unrestricted grant from Research to Prevent Blindness, New York, NY, and the National Rosacea Society.

    The authors have no proprietary interest in any product or concept discussed in this article. Single copy reprint requests to Mark J. Mannis, MD (address below).

    Abbreviations are printed in boldface where they first appear with their definitions.

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