Find a doctor for Ocular Rosacea

[sbryner]

Hello, My mother has what I would deem severe ocular rosacea. She has negected to care for it properly the past year as she can not drive herself and was without medical insurance, and I did not live close enough to help. She now has medicare and ARP, I live closer now and I hope we can find help for her. My frustration for her has been finding a doctor. She has gone to regular eye doctors, and of course two out of three have never even heard of ocular rosacea. We so desperately need to find a doctor who can work with her to find what is the best regiment to relieve her as much as possible so she can start enjoy her life some again. When she has flare ups it is just like she is blind, which happens often when she is not on anitbiotics. We have been told she can not stay on these constantly, but we do not know (and neither does her present doctor) what our other alternative is to help her thru the periods when she is off the antibiotics. Please help me with any information on finding a doctor.

Thank you,
Sheryll

[Warren]

Where in the U.S. (assuming from post) does your mother live? You may also find the North America forum (http://forum.rosaceagroup.org/viewforum.php?f=7) useful.

[Melissa W]

Hi Sheryll,

Also, you could try big teaching hospitals. They often have the top doctors in the field. They are dedicated to teaching and hence learning about conditions many other docs are not well versed in.

Also, there are low dose antibiotics that may help your mom's eye symptoms that she can be on for longer periods. Oracea and minocycline are two examples of those.

Good luck with your search.

Best wishes,
Melissa

[sbryner]

Hello Melissa,

Thank you for responding to my post and the suggestions. I will bring them up at out next appointment, usless we have a new doctor by then(hopefully). I truly appriciate it. I am sorry if i sound naive, but what would a teaching hospital be and do you know how i could research that on the net? I really do thank you for helping. This condition is so very frustrating, but I know and pray that we can learn more to get things to a more livable level. It is not fun to watch my mom be in so much pain and frustration.

I look forward to hearing back from you,
Sheryll

PS do you feel it is safe to go ahead and get her to start using eye drops as suggested on other post and blog connected to this forum?

[sbryner]

Hello Warren,

I am not sure how to completely work these posts, so i thought i could address my responses seperatley, but maybe not. My mom lives in southwest region of Oregon state, and so any doctor in the western area would work as we are willing to get her to were she needs to go. Oregon is not that big. Please let me know if you have know of any doctors or clinics in this area. I have not looked into the suggestion on your post yet, but i will do so now.

Thank you very, very much
Sheryll

[Melissa W]

Hi Sheryll,

I understand how hard it is to see your mom suffering and how helpless you must feel. My heart goes out to you.

As far as teaching hospitals I am talking about major hospitals where they have residents and interns and are therefore involved in learning, keeping current and sharp in all areas. What major hospitals are near you? I would google them and check their reputation and take it from there. You could call their ophthalmology dept. and speak to them and see if they recommend any ocular rosacea specialists. That's a starting place.

I'm not sure what site you are referring to about the eyedrops.
It is perfectly safe to use preservative-free rewetting drops to help your mom's eye dryness and improve her comfort and maybe vision.
Also, fish oil supplements and flaxseed might help her tear film and comfort.

Please feel free to ask anything else that I may not have touched upon.

Best wishes,
Melissa

[phlika29]

Hi

Just to say I've moved your topic to the ocular section.

[Neveen]

try Bascom Palmer
I go with Doctor Yuu
and Doctor Karp..

I have severe occular rosacea, had 2 corneal transplants, cataracts and am due for my third transplant, but mine is a pretty severe case, but my doctors have been great!

Hospital located in Miami Florida
called Bascom Palmer

[Melissa W]

I'm so glad to hear you found help Neveen!
Best of luck with your next transplant and treatment!

Melissa