Changing vision

[Twickle Purple]

I have ocular rosacea, and from what I understand it is fairly common with folks that have full blown rosacea. Apart from the misery of the grit under the lids, itch, teariness, goopy stuff and loss of lashes, I struggle with my vision. I went to have my eyes checked because I couldn't focus, my new prescription didn't work. Thinking it was the eye doctor I went to a different fellow, and got a different Rx. The 3rd try I went to a really thorough fellow and learned about the way the shape of the eye changes when it is inflammed or dried out. So I have 3 prescriptions. :roll: I also learned that I'd scratched my corneas from all the rubbing, so a word of caution on that regard.

My best remedy for quick relief of the itch is lying down with a cold cloth on my lids. I use low level light therapy (yellow with red) and have good broad success with that, but still have maddening episodes. Canada does not allow restasis so I borrow my dogs tacrolimus drops when I am truly desperate. It is an immune modulator which I think works along the same lines as restasis (I'm sure someone will correct me if I am wrong there), I use it topically already so I have no concerns about using it. As far as I know it isn't available in an ophthalmological form for human use yet.

I went to a new MD a couple weeks ago (my MD left to be a locum :cry: ) and he was adamant that I use steroid drops! I urge anyone NOT to use this on your ocular rosacea, it can have nasty long-term side effects.

I also use systane and find it helps more than other drops I've tried.

[ablondemoment]

just a question as to how you first realised you had ocular rosacea? Did it start with a few symptons and then get worse? The reason I ask is because I have started to have problems with my left eye. When I wake I usually have a clearish color discharge in the corner of my eye. My vision can be blurry for half an hour on waking, but this can sometimes return through the day. The lower eyelid is very red on the inside and when the eye is bad(like today), very gritty and the white of the eye is very red. (i have had it checked by my Dr and it is not congunctivitius.The lower lid also gets itchy but have managed to refrain from scratching. :cry: Do you think this is ocular rosacea? Any feedback would help? I am currently using Poly-tears to help with the dryness and scratchy grit feeling- today it hasn't helped with any of it well.
Rita

[drummond]

I have ocular rosacea, and from what I understand it is fairly common with folks that have full blown rosacea. Apart from the misery of the grit under the lids, itch, teariness, goopy stuff and loss of lashes, I struggle with my vision. I went to have my eyes checked because I couldn't focus, my new prescription didn't work. Thinking it was the eye doctor I went to a different fellow, and got a different Rx. The 3rd try I went to a really thorough fellow and learned about the way the shape of the eye changes when it is inflammed or dried out. So I have 3 prescriptions. :roll: I also learned that I'd scratched my corneas from all the rubbing, so a word of caution on that regard.

My best remedy for quick relief of the itch is lying down with a cold cloth on my lids. I use low level light therapy (yellow with red) and have good broad success with that, but still have maddening episodes. Canada does not allow restasis so I borrow my dogs tacrolimus drops when I am truly desperate. It is an immune modulator which I think works along the same lines as restasis (I'm sure someone will correct me if I am wrong there), I use it topically already so I have no concerns about using it. As far as I know it isn't available in an ophthalmological form for human use yet.

I went to a new MD a couple weeks ago (my MD left to be a locum :cry: ) and he was adamant that I use steroid drops! I urge anyone NOT to use this on your ocular rosacea, it can have nasty long-term side effects.

I also use systane and find it helps more than other drops I've tried.
During all the eight years of my suffering rosacea it was only the last two years did i develop blepharitis. So it would be interesting to know from anyone who visits this topic, not only now but in the future as to how long it was before their ocular symptoms began after the initial onset of rosacea.
One of the biggest classical trigger factors with ocular is red wine p.h. 4.0
also on other rosacea sites so far this factor also seems to be prominent.
I don't have rosacea now and only intermittent extreemly minimal ocular twinges now and again.
The reason why i developed ocular was because the ocular was the next stage of rosacea, the dehydration i was suffering from became more severe and was therefore due to lack of moisture to the eyes just as i experienced the lack of sweating which is also just another secreation. Once i realised that there was a relationship between lack of sweating and dry gritty eyes i got to work on the problem. The outcome became my guy fawks sweating system that brought wonderfull day lasting relife. Although the guy fawks sweating system has been foolishly ridiculed it does work, I found that there was no need for eye drops or lid cleaning.
It is interesting to note that it is heat that brings secreatons to the eyes, which has been the principle of hot eyepads development by a local opthalmists.
It is not the fact that the eyes become dry. The real cause is simply a lack of secreation initiation there is a dynamic dll. driver in our biological computer that cannot be initiated hence firstly lack of sweating and later lack of tears as the second dynamic dll. driver begins to fail.
Why does this initiation fail?
All automated machinery and automated products are driven by an inbuilt computer called a pc board. For this pc board to function properly it must maintain a voltage of 15volts any more or less causes failure in the switching on and off of function. Our body is wired on the same principal.

[banshee]

just as an aside Twicks...eye dryness in and of itself can make vision blurry requiring you concentrate more. Especially in the presence of light & with night vision. The moisture on the eye usually acts to kind of refract some of the brightness as well as enables the eye to see better. Eye dryness can also lead to corneal abrasions.

Imo, Systane is not a good choice for our issues. If I am not mistaken, it has a basis of propylene glycol. On the face that ingredient causes epidermal breakdown, so I think it's analogous to a protective breakdown on the eye surface.

I prefer TheraTears Gel Drops for Night-preservative free vials. Also, I wouldn't be without the TheraTears supplement & Evening Primrose Oil. They really do naturally increase tears from the inside out.

HTH :)

[PA Dancer]

just a question as to how you first realised you had ocular rosacea? Did it start with a few symptons and then get worse? The reason I ask is because I have started to have problems with my left eye. When I wake I usually have a clearish color discharge in the corner of my eye. My vision can be blurry for half an hour on waking, but this can sometimes return through the day. The lower eyelid is very red on the inside and when the eye is bad(like today), very gritty and the white of the eye is very red. (i have had it checked by my Dr and it is not congunctivitius.The lower lid also gets itchy but have managed to refrain from scratching. :cry: Do you think this is ocular rosacea? Any feedback would help? I am currently using Poly-tears to help with the dryness and scratchy grit feeling- today it hasn't helped with any of it well.
Rita

Hi Rita,
My eye problems started before my rosacea really got started.
One night before going to bed I felt a pain in my upper left eyelid.
I thought it may have been a pimple coming in, and I didn't see anything so I didn't think anything of it.
I went to sleep, and woke up the next morning.
My eyelid hurt. Into the bathroom I go to look in the mirror. My left eyelid looked like someone shoved a golf ball under it.
Instant panic!
I called my eye doctor's office and my doc made me an emergency appointment at the eye institute here in Northeast PA.
They gave me some kind of drop for the eyes, and some antibiotics.
The swelling went down and I was left with this lump.
A month or two later I made the appointment to have it cut out.

Since then I had two lumps appear in the right lid and that same eye doc injected them with steroids, which didn't do a darn thing.

I was told I have blepharitis, and the rosacea is effecting my eyes.
I was told I needed a routine of eye lid scrubs, and hot compresses as soon as I notice anything going on with my eyes.

Most mornings I wake up, and my both upper lids look like someone filled with with liqiud, and then it goes away after I wake up.

If I look close with a magnifying mirror, I can see little crusties in my lashes.

I do wake up, and even throughout the day get that little corner of eye junk. We used to call them "sleepers" :D

From what I know, it's completely normal if they are clear, white, or tinted yellow. It's just your eyes way of cleaning itself out.

If you see orange, green or blood tinted you most likely have an infection. (especially with your sinus)

I will post a pic of my eye when I got the infection...

[PA Dancer]

Does anyone else have a problem with occasional blurriness?

I notice it mostly at night, when I am reading and/or reading a book.

It seems like when I read for awhile, then try to focus on somethinf further away I get a blurry haze in my right eye for a little while.

I try to blink it away, and I don't notice anything different with the pupil.

I have been to my eye doc numerous time and he doesn't see any problems or change in my vision.

My right eye seems to be my problem eye recently.

When I had the infection in the left and it was taken care of, I never had a problem since. (knock on wood).

When I started getting those tiny lumps (chalazion) in my right eye, the specialist injected them with a steroid instead of removing them. (The steroid did nothing)

My regular eye doc seems to think the chalazion may be putting the lightest bit of pressure on the eye causing the blurriness.

I was thinking that it might be a dry eye problem, or when you get that allergy film in your eye.

Anyone else having temporary blurriness problems?

[Twickle Purple]

Blurry vision was the first symptom of rosacea for me, long before the facial manifestations. My vision would go blurry if I was out in cool weather, and I would get stringy mucous which floated across my eyes. It was hard to remove! What I learned was that of the 3 'systems' responsible for keeping the eye moist and lubricated, I had a problem with the oily film producing one. It was this 'defect' that would cause my vision to blur. Now I get it even if I am not outdoors, but I find the Systane gives me the best and most long-lasting relief.

Source. (http://www.systane.com/consumer/What_are_Tears.asp)
The tear film has three main components: lipid, aqueous, and mucin. Lipids form an oily layer on the outside of the tear film and help slow down evaporation of tears.

The largest portion of the tear film is made of up aqueous (watery) with different types and concentrations of mucins (sticky proteins) throughout. The thickest concentration of mucins is at the eye's surface. Since the eye's surface is naturally water repellant, the mucins are needed to create a water attracting surface so the aqueous will spread over the eye.

[Twickle Purple]

just a question as to how you first realised you had ocular rosacea? Did it start with a few symptons and then get worse? The reason I ask is because I have started to have problems with my left eye. When I wake I usually have a clearish color discharge in the corner of my eye. My vision can be blurry for half an hour on waking, but this can sometimes return through the day. The lower eyelid is very red on the inside and when the eye is bad(like today), very gritty and the white of the eye is very red. (i have had it checked by my Dr and it is not congunctivitius.The lower lid also gets itchy but have managed to refrain from scratching. :cry: Do you think this is ocular rosacea? Any feedback would help? I am currently using Poly-tears to help with the dryness and scratchy grit feeling- today it hasn't helped with any of it well.
Rita

It sounds very much like ocular rosacea. I would suggest that if you do not have at least some relief from an eye drop after 5 days that you pack it in and try another. I went through every brand available until I found the one that worked for me. I also find that cool compresses give some temporary relief.

Best of luck treating this maddening condition!

[Twickle Purple]

That is very interesting Drummond. Thanks for your post.

[Twickle Purple]

just as an aside Twicks...eye dryness in and of itself can make vision blurry requiring you concentrate more. Especially in the presence of light & with night vision. The moisture on the eye usually acts to kind of refract some of the brightness as well as enables the eye to see better. Eye dryness can also lead to corneal abrasions.

Imo, Systane is not a good choice for our issues. If I am not mistaken, it has a basis of propylene glycol. On the face that ingredient causes epidermal breakdown, so I think it's analogous to a protective breakdown on the eye surface.

I prefer TheraTears Gel Drops for Night-preservative free vials. Also, I wouldn't be without the TheraTears supplement & Evening Primrose Oil. They really do naturally increase tears from the inside out.

HTH :)

Thanks for the info. Systane does have polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG) and polyethylene glycol (PG), which helps to create a PH adaptive protective layer on the eye. This enables it to work in a way that other products don't. I found it to be the only OTC drop out there that gives me relief.

[ablondemoment]

Thanks for the replies to my queries. Since I last wrote have noticed the same sympton -blurry eyes for no apparent reason. (have had eyes checked and have been told I have 20/20 vision). Am finding even when i am indoors, my eyes go blurry. So far have not noticed anything in my eye when this happens, will keep looking. It does eventually become clear again.This is happening almost daily now.

My inner bottom eyelid sometimes has one or two very small raised lumps, actually can see one small one there now. Oh what is to become of us?????? :cry: What is the point in having beautiful blue eyes if they are surrounded by a sea of red...??????( got to LOL :lol: ) .You know one could get the impression I am a vain person...worring about these things...just so frustrating sometimes. The worst is not knowing how bad it will get.

As for puffiness of eyelids, generally find this in the morning, ususally settles down through the day.

Am still finding my way regarding this condition and how to treat it best. Thanks for sharing your stories, helps me know I am not alone in my frustration.

Bless you all
Rita

[cinmun]

Why shouldn't you use stearoid drops. I am concerned because I am using it - its in tobradex and I am also taking an oral anitbiotic as well. Wha will happen with the steroid drops?

Thanks,
Cindy

[Neveen]

I'm new to the forum, I've had occular rosacea since I was 18, which developed into Keratitis and both my cornea's eventually perforated (I had two corneal transplants, one was 2 years ago and the other around 3 months ago). I use steroid drops (predforte) for about 6 years now.
My vision is horrible, really blurry, but now I have ONE hard contact in my eye.
I'd also like to know anyone who's had this kindof thing "finaly end" because I've had it for about 6 years now and my cornea's are still falling apart, ulcers left and right and my blepharitis..even with cleaning every day, has not diminished much.


I'd also like to know the side-effects of long term steroid drop use, since I've been using it for years now (Pred-forte)
I'm also on Doxycycline.
But I was also injected in the eye with steroid medication a few times to prevent graft rejection a month or two after the surgery.

I've read alot of threads here and wonder if I can find anyone else with a severe case like mine has gone through this? and maybe find a way to deal or make it less severe?.
I've read online severe cases like this can lead to blindness.

[phlika29]

Neveen

It appears that the board has gone abit haywire as there are no posts awaiting approval. Could you try again?

Many thanks

Sarah

EDIT by redhotoz: All fixed now Sarah