Rosacea - Metronidazol Gel

[Sannah25]

It's been quite some time since I last visited these boards!

I started suffering from Blepharitis and MGD about 1,5 years ago now. I have since become convinced that the cause of my eye problems is in fact (ocular) rosacea. I started getting facial rosacea some 9 months ago and have learned that rosacea actually runs in the family: both my uncles have been dealing with this condition for a long time. Also, my eyes seem to get worse with regular warm / hot compresses.

My doctors do not believe in the link between the two diseases and still keep going on about baby shampoo lid scrubs despite my arguments. I have seen four different doctors and though they have been understanding and kind - and most of them agreed that I have both MGD and rosacea - they just refuse to acknowledge that the diseases may be connected. I have now been given a gel, Rozex (metronidazol) to treat my facial rosacea and they advise I continue lid scrubs. I have actually given up on them months ago and am controlling my eyes with eyedrops, occasional warm compresses, general hygiene and wipes called supranettes. It's not the best regime, and it hasn't significantly improved my eyes, but at least there have been no styes or any excessive burning.

I have two questions for you experienced people:

1) Can I use this gel on my eyelids? My current doctor does not recommend it, but also hasn't exactly forbidden it.

2) How do you treat your ocular rosacea? Is there anything I can try that does not involve antibiotics or other medication?

I know I should ask a doctor about this but I have given up on finding one in my country who is sufficiently knowledgeable in this area.

[PotatoCakes]

I would not use Metrogel (another name for metronidazol) on your lids. I use it occasionally on my face; it seems potentially dangerous to put it on your lids.

A doctor of mine told me to stop using anything chemical on my lids at all so no baby shampoo, commercial wipes, etc. He prefers this method (this isn't from the doctor I went to; I just found it online): http://www.goeyecarecenter.com/dev/p...Techniques.pdf using saline like this http://www.brightsky.com.au/Products..._Ampoules.aspx NOT the contact solution kind. You can get it at most pharmacies (different brands). Some pharmacies / states require a prescription but many do not (all it is is sterile saline).

Another doctor suggested following my warm compresses with cold, wet green tea bags to lower the inflammation. I don't do it regularly because of time but when I do, they really help.

I once saw Rebecca recommend, to a potential ocular rosacea sufferer with doctors that didn't believe, printing out some abstracts about it to bring to the doctors. I thought that was a really good suggestion. Ideally, they'd take the time to Google it and do it themselves but some doctors aren't as good as others and don't do that sort of thing so the patient has to be the one to do it. You can find some good articles on this site by using the search function in the upper right hand corner of the site and just by Googling Ocular Rosacea. Stick to the articles that are more official, medical journals and abstracts are good. It might not hurt to go through the articles with a highlighter and highlight a few things.

[LaDiva]

I have ocular rosacea, and tried Metrogel (which I use for facial rosacea) on my lids. It irritated the lids, and did not seem to affect the ocular inflammation one way or the other. If you haven't already done so, you might try this site: http://rosacea-support.org/ Azasite is supposed to help, but I am not so sure, and it is a drug. Doxycycline will help, but it is also a drug. Food triggers are an issue. Mine are spicy food (which I love) and chocolate. Hot flashes and hormones can also be a problem. There are probably more, just haven't pinpointed them yet. Good luck Sannah and best wishes. It is a tangled path to walk.