Ocular Rosacea Workup

Updated: Mar 03, 2020
  • Author: Jitander Dudee, MD, MA(Cantab), FACS, FRCOphth; Chief Editor: Edsel B Ing, MD, PhD, MBA, MEd, MPH, MA, FRCSC  more...
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Workup

Laboratory Studies

The diagnosis of ocular rosacea is established clinically and is often aided by dermatologic findings. Laboratory studies are not indicated. In cases of neovascularization and atypical presentation, ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) should be excluded.

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Imaging Studies

Imaging studies are not indicated.

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Other Tests

Other tests are not indicated.

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Histologic Findings

The conjunctiva in ocular rosacea is infiltrated by inflammatory cells, T-helper/T-suppressor (CD4) cells, phagocytic cells, and antigen-presenting cells. In addition, increased vascular dilation and occasionally granulomatous changes are present. None of these changes are specific for rosacea.

Patients with rosacea typically have a mean increase of nearly all cell types, but especially T-helper cells.

Hoang-Xuan et al demonstrated a 3.5-fold increase in the ratio of CD4 cells to CD8 cells in the conjunctiva of patients with rosacea, most resembling a type IV hypersensitivity reaction. [20]

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