Thanks to a tip from Dori, on the Rosacea Support Group Email Group, here is a link to a video of a lecture giving a good overview of ocular rosacea and treatments.
Ocular Rosacea: Curse of the Celts and Celebs
The presentation is given by Heather Potter, MD, an Ophthalmologist from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.
Highlights
Some of the points that I thought were interesting;
- rosacea is not purely related to demodex mites because eradicating them with Lindane (quite a dangerous drug it seems) does not help rosacea symptoms.
- some good slides and description of the life cycle of demodex
- tea tree oil shampoo for lid hygiene as in normal blepharitis treatment is a good option for demodex infestation of the eyelid.
- Tea Tree Oil is the best treatment we have for demodex
- Tea Tree Oil 20% combined with macadamia or walnut oil is another option
- Otophyma gets a mention, with a slide where you are directed to the visible pores in the enlarged ear
- Azelaic Acid 20% is mentioned at a 1st line topical treatment, but I think they actually meant Finacea which is only 15%
- Sodium Sulfacetamide wash as a lid scrub is mentioned as an alternative to baby shampoo
- “Burst and Taper” or just starting out with 40mg a day of doxycycline is mentioned as an oral treatment
- 3000 – 4000 mg Omega 3, tapering to 2000 mg a day maintenance has worked well for her ocular rosacea patients. It takes 6 weeks to have an effect.
- Ocular rosacea is found equally in males and females.
- Cyclosporin gets a mention as a topical treatment. Azasite Plus drops (a steroid plus azithromycin) is shown on the topical treatments slide.
- Need to raise the body temperature by 5 degrees before attempting warm compresses to liquify the meibomian gland secretions you are trying to clean.
- Cyclosporin gets another mention for dry eyes, along with punctal plugs
- Doxycycline gets a mention specifically as an ocular rosacea treatment
- An image from a “throw away journal” with what looks like a device to heat and massage the eyelids to help clear the glands.
The video is 25 minutes long, but you can squash it down to 16 minutes if you select the 1.5x link at the bottom of the video player.
Well worth a watch.
Best Bit for You?
What bit of the video was most worthwhile for you?
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- Ocular Demodex, Tea Tree Oil as a treatment
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- Oracea to replace Periostat, new rosacea treatment launched
- Rosacea Resources: Ocular Rosacea
I started taking fish oil years ago ~ it has greatly helped my ocular symptoms of dryness and the feeling as if “something was in my eye.” Interesting to see there has finally been some research, as I have always thought there was a link. When I seem to get symptomatic again, I up my dosage and it is usually resolved.
Forgot to mention 2000mg is also my daily maintenance dosage.
I’ve had Blepharitis since I was a little girl and struggled with it for many years. About 2 years ago I came across a Opthamologist who specialized in Blepharitis patients. She prescribed Azasite and Antibiotic/steroid ointment along with baby shampoo treatment for cleansing lids. After just a week, my inflammation and crusts associated with it were almost completely gone. Within a month, my eyelash loss decreased dramatically and new lashes grew in and were longer and fuller. I’ve maintained this for two years with occasional use of Azasite when a flair up occurs and dabbng the inflamed region of my eyelid where crusts are forming with the ointment. Every other night I also use cotton swabs dipped in the baby shampoo solution to get into all the precise areas of my eyelids and in between eyelashes. In my case, herbs such as cilantro, oregano, parsley, basil, etc. triggers my flair ups and causes headaches. Red #40 food coloring also triggers a reaction. I’m 27 years old now and I wish I had known about these treatments during my high school years. I would not have been so self conscious about my appearance. I hope this helps someone!
I have viewed this presentation and have no doubt that I have Ocular Rosacea
My family Doctor will not do any thing for me because I have been referred to a Ophthalmologist .
He (the ophthalmologist)has send me to a Allergist and I have had a series of tests.This doctor said he could do nothing for me and send me back to the eye Doctor.
When I returned to the Ophthamalogist he agreed that I have a problem and said he did not know what to do for me. He told me he would try to make an appointment for me with a Doctor in London Ontario . He told me not to use anything in my eyes. .
That is now 2 weeks and my next appointment is Dec27th 2012 . To check the preasure in my eyes (I have Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome in both eyes)
In the mean time i had to go to my Family Doctor who prescribed a pill to relax me and allow me to get some sleep ( the pills are working but my eye condition is getting worse they are tearing, burning, inchy ,and the skin around the eyes is peeling.
How can I get someone to say that I have Ocular
rosacea and start a program to help me. I do have skin Roscea.
Your suggestions would be appreciated
.