Conjunctival Telangiectasia Is a Predictor for Rosacea

Detecting conjunctival telangiectasia in patients with rosacea is crucial for detecting underlying rosacea, according to a study published in International Ophthalmology.

Researchers aimed to evaluate common ocular surface manifestations in patients with rosacea and to find out features associated with disease diagnosis. The right eyes of patients with rosacea and age-gender matched controls were enrolled, and ophthalmologic examinations were performed. Examinations included tear break-up time (t-BUT) and Schirmer-2 tests to analyze tear film insufficiency, and optical coherence tomography (OCT)-assisted infrared meibography to analyze meibomian gland drop-out. An Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire was also performed.

Visual acuity, intraocular pressure, central corneal thickness, and axial length were all similar between the study and control eyes. Higher instances of foreign body sensation, itching, dryness, hyperemia, conjunctival telangiectasia, and meibomitis were found in study eyes. Patient with rosacea had higher t-BUT and Schirmer-2 tests, lower-eyelid and total OCT meibography, and OSDI scores. Conjunctival telangiectasia was a major predictor for rosacea diagnosis.

“Detailed slit-lamp examination to detect any conjunctival telangiectasia seems to be crucial in recalcitrant dry eye cases, not to miss underlying [rosacea],” concluded the study authors. “Especially, lower-eyelid OCT meibography score may be sensitively used for disease staging,” they added.

Reference
Ozturk T, Kayabasi M, Ozbagcivan O, Ayhan Z, Utine CA. Common ocular findings in patients with acne rosacea. Int Ophthalmol. Published online November 2, 2021. doi:10.1007/s10792-021-02093-5