Ocular rosacea.

Ocular rosacea was diagnosed in 6.3% of a cornea/external disease referral practice where more than half of the patients referred are for corneal surgery. The most common signs and symptoms are also common to many patients in the general practice of ophthalmology, i.e., foreign body sensation, burning, superficial punctate erosions, chalazia and blepharitis. Less common but dangerous to the vision was corneal thinning, vascularization and infiltrates. Three new associated symptoms were described. These were map dot subepithelial opacities, recurrent erosions and moderately severe foreign body sensation, pain or burning with minimal associated signs. Oral tetracycline 250 mg q.i.d. resulted in improvement in almost all patients from 4 to 17 days after initiation of therapy. Although most of the patients have been able to taper and stop therapy, those with foreign body sensation, burning and pain have had recurrences of their symptoms with all attempts at stopping therapy.